Millangoda Raja
Millangoda Raja (Sinhala: මිල්ලන්ගොඩ රාජා) (also known as Millangoda tusker)(1938-30 July 2011)was a Sri Lankan elephant, which was considered as the longest tusked Asian elephant, when he was living.[1] He was captured at Nawagaththegama jungles in Anamaduwa, Puttalam District in 1945 and thereafter was owned by M. R. A. Millangoda Appuhamy of Molagoda, Kegalle.[2]
Millangoda Raja participated at the Esala Perahera in Kandy for nearly 40 years and also carried the casket of tooth relic, an opportunity enjoyed by only a few elephants in Sri Lanka.[3] The tusker died on 30 July 2011 and was about 73 years old at the time of his death.[4] After his death the body of Millangoda Raja was Preserved and placed on public display in a museum, which was constructed by Ananda Millangoda at the Elephant Village in Molagoda, Kegalle.
References
- Charles Haviland (4 August 2011). "'Longest tusked' elephant in Asia dies in Sri Lanka". BBC News. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- Dhaneshi Yatawara (7 August 2011). "Milangoda Raja - The majestic tusker that was". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- "Elephant with the longest tusks in Asia dies". Sunday Observer online. 14 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- "An elegy to Millangoda Raja". Dailynews online. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.