Will Buddhist countries learn from the UK?

Elephants, in captivity, could be banned in the UK as part of possible recommendations the government is set to consider.

The Elephant Welfare Group has been tasked with producing evidence-based guidelines to improve the management and welfare of elephants in the UK.

Keeping elephants in zoos could be made illegal, amid warnings animals suffer mental illnesses in captivity.

Reports suggest it will advise the banning of captive elephants, marking an end to seven centuries of the practice.

Animal rights campaigners have long warned of the physical and mental health impact captivity has on elephants.

“There is a lot of evidence, over the years, that’s been gathered about issues to do with longevity, physical ailments, psychological ailments, and very low breeding rates for calves,” Will Travers, President of the Born Free Foundation, told Sky News. Such compassion is extended to even invertebrates, believe it or not! The UK government is also considering a ban on boiling lobsters alive as part of its move to strengthen the welfare rights of crustaceans.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed the government has commissioned an independent external review of the available scientific evidence on sentience – the capacity to be aware of feelings and sensations – in both crabs and lobsters.

Following a report in The Times, they said officials will “carefully consider” the evidence, adding that the government is “fully committed” to strengthening the country’s high animal welfare standards further.

If the government chooses to pursue the ban, it is believed a clause would be introduced into the Animal Welfare (Sentience Bill), which is currently making its way through the House of Lords.

These developments would, in due course, give greater powers to RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Dog Trust, Cats Protection, etc.

The Bill, at present, only covers vertebrates and not invertebrates, such as lobsters, crabs and squids.

It is about time Sri Lankans had woken up to the barbaric “Cultural Practices” being perpetuated and perpetrated under the patronage of the “guardians” of Buddhism, to carry out a critical and fundamental reappraisal of what Lord Buddha’s noble teachings in ahimsa really mean! (in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist tradition) respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others). We cannot carry on inflicting so much distress to our magnificent national heritage of elephants tethered to trees in Buddhist temples and parading them in annual processions for prestige values ! As one of my classmate friends, domiciled in Australia, portended Buddhism in Sri Lanka will disappear as increasing numbers of the Sangha turn temples into business models while living in the lap of luxury and, instead, pure Buddhism will expand and flourish in Australia, the U.K. Canada, the USA, etc !

Sunil Dharmabandhu

U.K.