Aug 03, Colombo: Sri Lank Tamed Elephant Owners' Association laments that the number of tamed elephants have dropped gradually.

The Association figures point out that only 137 tamed elephants are now in the country. About 110 of them are over 50 years of age. There are only 18 tuskers among them and seven belong to the sacred Temple of Tooth in Kandy.

The Secretary of the Tamed Elephant Owners' Association Damsiri Karunarathna says that the number of tamed elephants did not increase after the licenses to capture wild elephants were nullified in 1975.

Sri Lanka traditionally uses elephants for religious pageants and heavy work related to logging.

However, the animal friendly civil society groups often criticize the conducts of the mahouts and the owners of the tamed elephants. Tamed elephants spend the whole life in chains and are often harassed by notorious mahouts.

Few days back a disturbed tamed elephant went on rampage in a busy street in Colombo causing heavy traffic jams in the city.