An international animal rights group is urging Sri Lanka to halt its plan to donate a baby elephant to the Philippines, saying it would result in the animal being sentenced to a lifetime at a decrepit facility.
Sri Lanka announced Thursday that it would donate an elephant from a government-run elephant orphanage to the Manila Zoo to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On Friday, Manila-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia sent a letter to Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, urging him “to prevent the transfer of any animals” from the country.
The group says in the letter that the zoo is a decrepit facility that has recently come under public scrutiny. It says the decision to send the elephant there “will surely reflect poorly on Sri Lanka.” (AP)
