Twist of fate

26 October 2010 07:56 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A wild elephant that had been saved from drowning in the sea off Sampur in Trincomalee a few months ago by the Sri Lanka Navy and released to the jungle was found dead last night in a well in Jayanthipura in Trincomalee.

Few months ago the elephant had been caught in a current and swept farther into the deep sea when the Navy spotted it. The jumbo had been roaming in the Sampur and Trincomalee areas and was being monitored by the Wildlife Conservation officials.

The residents of the area said the bull-elephant had fallen into the recently dug up well at about 10.30 pm on Monday night. They said the jumbo with a huge body had been trapped in the well without being able to move about. (Pic and Text by Amadoru Amarajeewa)

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 - 30

malkanthi Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:14 AM

Basically I feel these personnel working in Wild Life Department are not animal lovers, but working for money only, otherwise could have taken measures to protect them.

sandman Wednesday, 27 October 2010 07:24 AM

There is NO COMMON SENSE in our country these days. Everyone is brain washed and in a daze 24/7.......................

Faqi Wednesday, 27 October 2010 06:54 AM

This is the fault of the humans who dug this well and did not put
any barricades or fence. Even a child could have fallen into this pit. Humans are stupid, one cannot blame animals, if humans are so callous towards animals. Who ever dug this pit must be charged with cruelty to animals. In all western countries there are animal rights organizations to stop or prevent cruelty to animals. This is one case where humans are at fault. This elephant would have died a painful death.

Lamaya Wednesday, 27 October 2010 06:28 AM

So sad though I love elephants..

Naren Senaratna Wednesday, 27 October 2010 02:57 AM

I believe this animal smelt the water from the freshly dug well and mistakenly fell in thinking it was a water hole ... what a shame even after the Navy intervention which saved its life once earlier .. I suppose its time had come for it to move on ...

siripala Wednesday, 27 October 2010 02:07 AM

what a sad ending... How can the officials neglet uncovered open well like this? Can we learn something from this and take necessary actions to cover all these open wells in the wild?
What a shame!

waz Wednesday, 27 October 2010 02:03 AM

this is the fault of the officials if a hole this big is dug they should be closed for protection even a human could hv had that fall..
why dont peopl use their common cents.. at the end the poor elephant died from the hands of a Human.

Ruki Wednesday, 27 October 2010 01:46 AM

Why does everything have to end up with Politics??? Get a life MK!!!!!

Punchi Putha Wednesday, 27 October 2010 12:58 AM

No one is worried about the scores of deaths in the N&E, see how many comments for just one elephant's death

Dulanji Tuesday, 26 October 2010 07:44 PM

Yanne koheda malle pol...

The story about wild elephants, not about a political party. This is a serious matter than any opposition party inside problems.

Dulanji Tuesday, 26 October 2010 07:39 PM

you only told... not proven no?,,, so why not we try out this method in Sri Lanka... someone have to stop this mess..!. I'll if I can!.

nnassm Tuesday, 26 October 2010 02:32 PM

Ranil and company have to think abt this,in future same think w'll happn to u all,thamam kapapu wale thamumma watai.

MK Tuesday, 26 October 2010 01:23 PM

Very much similar to the way things are going in the UNP.... :(

patriot Tuesday, 26 October 2010 12:55 PM

protect villagers too. I have very confident wild life department can get international help.

Lam Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:26 AM

Things were much more organized during champika's time.

yes thats why noracholai is on fire

Fayad Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:11 AM

Very much similar to the lady who missed the plane due to traffic that crashed into Atlantic ocean died of a car crash a week later

migara Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:09 AM

Ha ha yes why not give the jumbos to Dr. Mervin?

Not a single one will fall to a pit. And his injections will make sure no one falls sick also

Katussa Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:04 AM

Shame. With all the swimming practice it had in the sea off Sampur this pachyderm has to fall in to a well and drown! The Navy boys who save it then must be heart broken.

Wal Aliya Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:03 AM

Looks like all the monitoring failed in this case.....

prabodha Tuesday, 26 October 2010 10:01 AM

Anura yapa is mining gems big time in Ratnapura. didn't you see the news the other day how he plans to do gem mining in big way? He has no time for elephants.
Better give the jumbos to Merv the perv. If the elephants misbehave he will either tie them to a tree or give an injection.

wasala Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:56 AM

Wildlife department was separated from Environment ministry after Champika Ranawaka was given power and energy.
Now the department comes under Economic Development Ministry of Basil Rajapaksa. Basil is too busy and elephants are totally neglected. Things were much more organized during champika's time.

Wildlife department should be brought under Environment ministry but I have my doubts whether current Env minister Anura yapa is capable of looking after elephants.

Lucy Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:53 AM

This is a method that is widely used in Africa, and I have suggested it to the UN development agencies as well as wildlife conservation authorities. However, I was told that this method has not proven successful in Sri Lanka. Perhaps there's a difference in the chillie, or maybe it's because of the different varieties of elephants

Ibnu Batuta Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:51 AM

Better send all "Elephants" to Norway for survival and future come back.

prabodha Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:49 AM

Oh dear, watched him on Atapattama after the navy saved him and thought he was extremely lucky.
What a twist of fate!!!

Ibnu Batuta Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:47 AM

This is the fate of Sri Lankan "Elephants".

Weejeweera Tuesday, 26 October 2010 09:46 AM

Where is this Environmental Minister? Is he sleeping???

Upul Premarathne Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:55 AM

Extremely sad to see it dead, specially after seen a TV footage of its rescuing by the Navy while floating off the Sampur sea. If things continue to happen this way we will only be able see them in captivity. A requirement of a national action plan to protect wild elephants seem essential to save them from brink of extinction.

Mohamed Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:31 AM

Fate of the elephants in the wild also not good???

roshan raz Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:20 AM

very sad. poor animal. unprotected wells are deadly for not only animals but for human beings too. immediate action should be taken to protect our elephants, leopards and other wild animals.

Soma Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:12 AM

This is the true situation of Human – Elephants conflict. I heard that Dr. joey De livera found a solution for this. It’s chilly. Elephants doesn’t like the smell of chilly. So gov pls do something to stop this and save our animals nature and the human life for our future…

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.

Twist of fate

Comments - 30

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

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’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win