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Journalism of Courage
“It’s Raja’s world, we’re just living in it,” reads the text in an Instagram video posted by BBC Earth, and it’s hard to disagree. In Sri Lanka, the concept of paying road tolls has taken an unexpected turn since Raja, an elephant, appointed himself the local toll collector.
Unlike the usual toll booths on highways, manned by employees in tiny cabins, Raja operates on his own terms. Stationed along the road in Ceylon, he confidently approaches passing vehicles and nudges drivers and passengers using his mighty trunk. His request? Food. While negotiations often ensue, they almost always end in Raja’s favour. Eventually, travellers hand over their snacks.
As reported by NDTV, those travelling from Lunugamvehera to Sella Kataragama often stop at roadside stalls to pick up fruits like bananas, hoping to cross paths with Raja and his fellow elephant friends along the way.
Watch the viral video:
The video spread like wildfire online, racking up over 16 million views in under 24 hours. The comments section was flooded with netizens who couldn’t get enough of the cuteness and humour.
One user wrote, “Road is constructed through his own land, he has every right to collect tax.” Another user said, “We got corruption in Animal Government.”
A third individual wrote, “These elephants are true businessmen.” A fourth person commented, “GST= Gajraj Service Tax.” Another user wrote, “This is where and how l want my tax to be paid.”
