Elephant Bharana’s head with tusks exhumed

By Kushan Jayawardana

GALKIRIYAGAMA (Daily Mirror) - The tusker Bharana of Kalaweva, which had died of electrocution after getting entangled in an illegal power line, was exhumed last afternoon, three years after its burial, under the supervision of Wildlife officials.

The exhumation was done under the supervision of Galkiriagama Wildlife Site Guard H.M.S. Bandara.

The Wildlife Conservation Department decided to preserve and present to the public the part of Bharana's head that includes the pair of tusks to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

The tusker was killed on July 26, 2022, after being entangled in an illegal power line in Galkiriyagama Ranawa Kanda Reserve near Kalawewa.

Before burial, the Department arranged to bury the head separately in the Galkiriyagama Wildlife Site to preserve the head with the pair of tusks for public display and for conservation activities.