In September 1961
A man dreamed of doing what no-one had done
-Save the Elephants.
Villagers vs. elephants- the age-old story
Had sprung up again in its bitter rivalry
The Deduru Oya herd of 250
Had dwindled down to half of the fifty
-mark - the only way to save them
Would be to drive them to Wilpattu Park.
Operation Aliya was born
4,000 men would start at dawn.
1,500 pounds were raised
The people involved highly praised.
After the temple ceremony- an unpleasant shock!
Only a few people came, the rest mocked
Operation Aliya.
A stag wounded a beater with his rod
The others turned back rather than displease the jungle god
And so Operation Aliya was in vain;
Of that magnificent herd, none remain.