A 70-year-old elephant who was forced to parade through the streets at a religious festival has died, its keeper has confirmed.

The story of Tikiri the elephant outraged animal rights groups all over the world after it emerged her emaciated body was being hidden by a colourful costume.

More disturbing photos showed her collapsed on the ground after the annual Esala Perahera, a Buddhist festival in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

She was one of around 60 elephants that marched for days on end so tourists and locals can feel ‘blessed’.

Following an outcry by activists Tikiri was returned to her keeper in Rambukkana, a village close to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

But it appears the ordeal had taken too much of a toll on her health.

Tikiri’s keeper told Metro.co.uk: ‘Yes, she died this afternoon.

‘A vet from the hospital is coming tomorrow to investigate and do a post-mortem.’

A source said the ‘poor girl spent her life as a slave’, adding: ‘We have been fighting for her and there was hope, but now this.

‘It’s just terrible.’

Earlier this month, Lek Chailert, who founded the Save Elephant Foundation in northern Thailand, shared photos of Tikiri after she was sent back to her owner.

The activist asked why Tikiri’s legs were still being chained together.

She wrote: ‘She is sick. She is old. She is weak. Why is she still tied both legs front and back? ‘Surely she deserves better. Is it fear of her from a lifetime of abuse?

‘Is there no emotional reciprocity, having spent a lifetime with her?

‘The bond between mahout [keeper] and elephant is vigorously defended.

‘The bond is clear. I see the bonds. If you love animals, truly, open your eyes, your mind, your heart, to their suffering.’

A spokesperson for the Sacred Tooth Relic, a Buddhist temple that organises the festival, claimed Tikiri had suffered from a ‘digestive ailment’ which allegedly prevented her from putting on weight.

In a statement, a temple spokesperson said Tikiri’s owner had ‘specifically requested’ her part in the festival as there is an ‘ancient belief’ that such religious offerings can cure weak animals.