July 17, Colombo: Within the year since the last Kandy Esala festival, 12 tamed elephants have died, says the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tamed Elephant Owners association Damsiri Karunarathna.

He pointed out that there are only 99 tamed elephants in the country now. Elephants are an essential part of 'Perahera' cultural pageants held in Kandy and other areas.

The casket of sacred relics of the 'Perahera' is normally delivered by a tusker and only 19 tamed tuskers are in Sri Lanka now. However, only seven of them are fit to deliver the casket of sacred relics in Perahera, says Mr. Karunarathna.

He also pointed out that 75% of the living tamed elephants are now over 60 years of age and may die within the next five years causing problems for Perahera organizers.