Written by: Rtr. Buthma Menali

Every August 12, the world pauses to celebrate one of nature’s most extraordinary beings, the elephant. This year, World Elephant Day 2025 comes with a theme that feels close to home for us in Sri Lanka: “Matriarchs & Memories”. It’s not just a catchy phrase, it’s a heartfelt reminder of the wisdom, leadership, and deep emotional lives of elephants. These grand leaders hold the stories of their herds, guiding generations with knowledge earned over a lifetime.

Elephants in Our Heart and Heritage

If you’ve ever witnessed the Kandy Esala Perahera in Sri Lanka, you know the sight is unforgettable. Towering tuskers adorned in shimmering cloths, stepping in rhythm to the drummers, carrying the Sacred Left Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. This is not just a perahera. It’s a living, breathing thread of our culture and faith. For us Buddhists, these elephants are more than part of the pageantry; they’re symbols of dignity, patience, and devotion.

A Fragile Coexistence

But behind the splendor lies a truth we can’t ignore. In villages across Sri Lanka, human–elephant conflict continues to take lives of both human and animal. Forests shrink, food becomes scarce, and desperate encounters lead to tragedy. We cannot let the same elephants who inspire awe in the Perahera become casualties of our progress.

Protecting the Matriarchs and Their Memories

The elephants of the wild are not so different from the revered tuskers of the Perahera. They carry the stories of their herds, remember safe routes, and pass down survival skills. When we lose them, we lose more than just an animal. We lose a piece of history, a library of memories written in footsteps and trumpet calls.

What We Can Do To Protect Them

We can be the generation that chooses coexistence. For that, we can
– Support conservation programs.
– Minimize the establishment of villages near forest areas.
– Engage with the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka for advice.
– Advocate for safe elephant corridors.
– Respect their space, whether they’re under the spotlight of the Perahera or roaming free in the forests.

This World Elephant Day, let’s honour not just the beauty we see, but the lives and legacies we can protect. After all, memories are not just kept by humans, elephants carry them too, and they deserve to carry them safely into the future.

Graphic Design by: Rtr. Buthma Menali