Sri Lanka has introduced new animal protection laws for its domesticated elephants.
All elephant owners will have new photo identity cards with a DNA stamp for their animals, and mandatory medical check ups every six months. Bans will be issued to owners ‘drunk riding’ on elephants.
Elephants will be banned from being used in movies, except for government productions under strict veterinary supervision. Baby elephants will no longer be used for work.
Those who break the new law will have their elephant taken into state care and potentially face a three prison sentence.