Wild Life officer killed by wild elephant

20 March 2015 01:31 pm

Wild Life Department officials said one of their officers was killed by a wild elephant which they were attempting to chase into the forest in Wellawaaya today.

The deceased officer was identified as 29-year-old Sanjeewa, a resident of Badulla, an officer attached to the Handapanwaththa Wild Life Office.

The residents had launched a protest at Handapanwaththa about the attacks by this wild elephant which had strayed into their village.

Eight wildlife officers had come to the village to chase the elephant into the forest but the enraged elephant had turned on the officers running behind it and attacked one of the officers who had hidden behind a tree.

It had trampled the officer and killed him instantaneously. (By Piyumi Fonseka and Sanath Desmond)