The Late Raja, Sri Lanka’s Best-Loved Elephant, to Be Stuffed and Preserved
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From Reuters
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Raja, this country’s best-loved elephant, will be stuffed and preserved as a national treasure, officials said Sunday.
Raja died Saturday at the age of 81. For 50 years he carried a gold casket containing relics of Buddha in an annual religious pageant in the central hills of Kandy.
The elephant was declared a national treasure some years ago by the state. The order to preserve him was given by President Junius R. Jayewardene.
A spokesman for the Colombo Museum said Raja will be stuffed and permanently displayed.
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