Tusker Deega Danthu-I, shot by trap gun; Wildlife

13 June 2018 06:09 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Deega Danthu I, one of the elephants with the longest tusks roaming the Kala Wewa National Park, was found with gunshot injuries on Monday, Galkiriyagama Wildlife Warden D. Ranasinghe said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the Galkiriyagama Wildlife Department had been informed by several fishermen in the Kala Wewa area about a wounded tusker, which was limping.

Deega Danthu was one of the 18 tuskers living in the Kala Wewa National Park.

“As soon as we got the message, a team led by Galkiriyagama Wildlife officers, Civil Defence Force officers and veterinary officers of Pandulagama were sent to the location along with several villagers,” Mr Ranasinghe said.

“At the time we reached the location, the elephant was found in a critical condition due to the injuries sustained on its front left leg,” he said.

The medical team had treated the tusker on Tuesday (12) morning.

“The elephant is now recovering well following the treatment. There are many licensed guns among the people living near the Kala Wewa National Park. This injury cannot be from a licensed gun, but from a trap gun used to kill wild animals illegally,” he said.

Following the investigation conducted by the Wildlife officers, they found the elephant had been injured by a trap gun in the Kahagalle forest area in the Kala Wewa National Park.

It was reported that the tusker used to enter villages searching for food and it had no fear of the methods adopted by the villagers to chase him away.

Mr Ranasinghe said there was no use of creating electric fences for tuskers because tuskers use their tusks to trample the electrified fence.

“Tusks do not pass electric shocks. Therefore, they remove electric fences using their tusks and enter villages to in search of food,” he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 8

Vila Wednesday, 13 June 2018 06:54 PM

Don't worry our minister will find a solution along with the deputy Minister

Unchikun Wednesday, 13 June 2018 07:50 PM

Now the “Black Coats Peoples TV Channel “ will be happy as the highlight elephants destroying land cultivated by farmers who have encroached on elephant habitat.

Podi Singho Wednesday, 13 June 2018 09:44 PM

The culprit who did this must be found or identified and punished. These tuskers are our national treasures, if we do not take any action now, in a few years there will be no more of these majestic animals in our country. Once gone we could never get them back.

Bombastic Thursday, 14 June 2018 01:12 AM

What our fellows will do for a little bit of black Chinese money.

Nihal Amarasekera Thursday, 14 June 2018 05:09 AM

Never ending human/elephant survival conflict unlike government/opposition (now multiple) power conflict.

DJ Thursday, 14 June 2018 06:45 AM

Something got to be done asap with regard to the human elephant conflict. The wild animals have hardly any forest left due to granting of land for cultivation. This is a adsurd method as the produce too is very small. Modern methods should be carried out on smaller lands to produce higher yield instead.

George Thursday, 14 June 2018 07:15 AM

What happened to the gps /belt.The tusks were definitely for a Chinese...

lawry Thursday, 14 June 2018 07:52 AM

Good to hear the riskier is recovering. Thanks to the caring people. This time fishermen too!!!

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Tusker Deega Danthu-I, shot by trap gun; Wildlife

Comments - 8

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES