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Heartbreaking new photo shows emaciated elephant Tikiiri close to death as she is forced to parade in costume by Sri Lankan owners

The elephant looks very frail, broken and malnourished, so much that you can see her bones through her flesh as she is sprawled on the floor.
UPDATED AUG 16, 2019

Another heartbreaking photo of an emaciated elephant in Sri Lanka has emerged in which the helpless beast is seen on the ground close to death and surrounded by people unable to help her situation.

Tikiiri, who works at "Tooth temple" in Kandy city, looks very frail, broken and malnourished - so much so that you can see her bones through her flesh as she is sprawled on the floor, Daily Mail reports. As previously reported, the 70-year-old female elephant is being forced by her owners to work alongside 60 other elephants during the ongoing Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka despite her deteriorating health.

The decorated animals perform every year in the ten-day Buddhist festival alongside a myriad of dancers, fire-breathers, jugglers, and musicians.

The 70-year-old female elephant is forced by her owners to work alongside 60 elephants during the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year despite her deteriorating health. (Facebook)

That said, the Save Elephant Foundation first shared the harrowing pictures of Tikiiri to mark World Elephant Day on Monday.

"Tikiri joins in the parade early every evening until late at night every night for ten consecutive nights, amidst the noise, the fireworks, and smoke," the foundation said. "She walks many kilometers every night so that people will feel blessed during the ceremony."

Animal lovers are now trying to speak out and save the frail beast.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, TV and radio presenter Nicky Campbell said, "It is sickening that such cruelty can be inflicted on this beautiful, sentient, sensitive, old lady – in the name of religion."

"After all she's gone through she should be taken out of her misery, given a chance to live out the rest of her days being properly looked after," he added. "All her life she will have been thinking of her mother and family and why on earth she ended up in this hell. She needs our help – now."

The costume donned by Tikiiri makes her look glamorous with a sparkly full-body dress, all the while covering the distressing reality underneath. (Facebook)

The costume donned by Tikiiri makes her look glamorous with a sparkly full-body dress, all the while covering the distressing reality underneath.

"No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume," the Save Elephant Foundation wrote. "No one sees the tears in her eyes, injured by the bright lights that decorate her mask. No one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks. How can we call this [the festival] a blessing, or something holy, if we make other lives to suffer?"

The foundation urged the public to "write to Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to end this cruelty."

"We cannot bring a peaceful world to the elephant if we still think that this image is acceptable," they added. "To love, to do no harm, to follow a path of kindness and compassion, this is the Way of Buddha. It is time to follow."

Several social media users too said they were left heartbroken by Tikiiri's dire predicament.

"To have this beautiful creature treated and used in such a despicable way shows that humans really do think they are the superior race... This has got to stop and I for one will write to the Sri Lankan government," one person commented on the picture.

"This is beyond awful... I have tears in my eyes. This beautiful lady needs to a sanctuary to live out her remaining days. This breaks my heart," another wrote. 

70-year-old Tikiiri worked with 60 other elephants for the Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka this year despite her ailing health and frail body. (Facebook)

The Save Elephant Foundation, a non-profit organization, provides care for a major chunk of Thailand's captive elephant population.

Sangdeaun Lek Chailert founded the organization after she began advocating for elephant welfare in Asia stemming from her love for the country's national symbol.

She has often raised concerns about the species becoming endangered.

"It is our mission to save the Asian elephant from extinction and give domesticated elephants a life worth living by preserving habitat and increasing public awareness on humane treatment practices," the foundation said.

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