In an ideal world, mourning the death of any living being should not bring relief for their passing. When death brings relief because a being has been suffering unimaginably however, we are glad the suffering has passed out of the world, at least. Often, the suffering of any animal comes in the form of pain or illness. In the case of Tikiri, the 70 year old elephant, her suffering was a result of years’ of slavery and abuse. The 70 year old Tikiri the elephant came to the world’s attention due to her emaciated appearance at a religious festival in Sri Lanka. The animal was used in a parade for 10 days each year. She was photographed in a skeletal, emaciated state, apparently malnourished and exhausted by her job. The elephant would march for days at this festival while hungry, exhausted and at an advanced age. Her body was covered with decorations to hide her terrible condition. Tikiri had been a working animal all her life, and was forced to march, despite being “India’s oldest elephant.”

It’s easy to forget that “fun elephant rides” for tourists are the other face of animal slavery. If tourists and those attending religious festivals boycott attractions and entertainments based on elephant slavery, unnecessary suffering could be prevented. That way, Tikiri’s suffering could at least lead to some kind of justice for others’ like her.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/asia/emaciated-elephant-death-sri-lanka-scli-intl/index.html