Emaciated 70-year-old female elephant Tikiiri who was forced to parade for miles in a Buddhist festival despite her ill-health has died.

Images of the Sri Lankan elephant lying on the ground, looking frail and and close to death with bones clearly visible through her flesh shocked the world when they emerged last month.

And it seems Tikiiri's condition was never to improve, after her death was confirmed on Tuesday.

Save Elephant Foundation, a Thailand-based charity who fought to save the elephant, have spoken of 'sorrow and relief' in the wake of her passing.

Emaciated 70-year-old female elephant Tikiiri who was forced to parade in a festival despite her ill-health has died

Images of the Sri Lankan elephant lying on the ground, looking frail and and close to death with bones clearly visible through its flesh shocked the world when they emerged last month. And it seems Tikiiri's condition was never to improve, after her death was confirmed on Tuesday

Tikiiri's owner told Metro.co.uk that the elephant died on Tuesday afternoon, and a vet was due to arrive tomorrow to carry out a post-mortem.

A source told the publication that Tikiiri had spent her life as a 'slave'.

She, alongside 60 other elephants, were forced to walk for miles as part of the annual Buddhist festival Esala Perahera.

The ten-day Buddhist festival features the decorated animals along with a myriad of performers including dancers, jugglers, fire-breathers and musicians.

Concerns for Tikiiri were shared by Save Elephant Foundation who released a image of Tikiiri standing among other elephants looking unwell.

The animal rights group revealed how the ailing female elephant was covered with a colourful costume, hiding her emaciated condition from those watching the parade.

'Tikiri joins in the parade early every evening until late at night every night for ten consecutive nights, amidst the noise, the fireworks, and smoke,' the foundation said.

'She walks many kilometres every night so that people will feel blessed during the ceremony.'

The animal rights group revealed how the ailing female elephant was covered with a colourful costume, hiding her emaciated condition from those watching the parade

A statement issued by Save Elephant Foundation in the wake of her death said: 'The sad news is just out tonight that Tikiri passed away this evening. There is both sorrow and relief here. To think of her brings such pain to my heart'

Founder Lek Chailert claimed all the elephants are 'short shackled' to each other so that they walk slowly through the streets in Kandy, a city in central Sri Lanka.

Following backlash, Tikiiri was returned to her owner in the village of Rambukkana, however she did not regain her health.

A statement issued by Save Elephant Foundation in the wake of her death said: 'The sad news is just out tonight that Tikiri passed away this evening. There is both sorrow and relief here. To think of her brings such pain to my heart.

'That hard service was her life, and not freedom, carries for me a commitment to others who yet suffer.

'That we could not help her before her eyes would shut forever fosters a renewed courage, and bears a responsibility for us to find safe refuges for all of the captive Giants born under the yoke of Man. What we wished for Tikiri, even a few days of freedom with love and care, we will demand for others.

'The day that I met Tikiri, her eyes locked with mine, telling me all that I needed to know. Her own fear and anger and sorrow is now part of that longer memory of her kind which should bear us no affection.

'Tikiri's suffering has ended, her soul is now free. No more harm can come to her.

'RIP dear Tikiri. Never look back to this world so cruel toward you and your friends.'