▲ A Sri Lankan woman dancing with a python at a beauty pageant
A Sri Lankan woman who danced with a protected python during a beauty pageant has been fined for animal cruelty.
According to AFP and Sri Lankan media such as the Daily Mirror on August 6 (local time), a Sri Lankan court recently sentenced beauty pageant contestant Metmi Hiranya, 19, who was indicted on animal cruelty charges, to a fine of 50,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 250,000 won).
The court also ordered a Sri Lankan man who rented the python to Hiranya and was indicted on the same charges to pay a fine of 100,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 500,000 won).
Hiranya was indicted for animal cruelty after wrapping a 2.1-meter-long python around her neck and dancing on stage at a beauty pageant held in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on March 20.
At the time, footage of this scene was filmed and spread online, drawing widespread attention.
Investigations revealed that Hiranya rented the python on the morning of the pageant from the northwestern region of Puttalam for 25,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 125,000 won) and returned it after the event ended.
Sri Lankan wildlife conservation authorities explained that pythons are protected species and using them in such a manner violates the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
Both defendants, including Hiranya, pleaded guilty in court.
Sanjiva, a Sri Lankan wildlife protection officer, explained, "Immediately after the incident, the python in question was released into the jungle."
He added, "In recent weeks, three men who exhibited reptiles in Colombo have also been indicted," and noted, "While we initially issue warnings, we prosecute animal abusers and repeat offenders."
Sri Lanka enforces strict laws to protect wildlife, including endangered species.
The Sri Lankan High Court sentenced a handler to 15 years in prison last September for trafficking a wild elephant, and in 2022, a tour guide was fined 200,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 1 million won) for mocking a wild elephant.
However, merchants in tourist spots across Sri Lanka still occasionally exhibit exotic animals or charge money in exchange for taking pictures with them.
(Photo: Capture from the Daily Mirror website, Yonhap News)
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