Elephant calf dies after truck collision in Habarana

By Kushan Jayawardana

Colombo, August 27 (Daily Mirror) - A 10-year-old elephant calf died this morning (27) after being hit by a container truck transporting cement in the Hirivadunna area of Habarana, police said.

The accident occurred near Hirivadunna School on the Habarana–Dambulla road when the calf, crossing the road, collided with the truck coming from Trincomalee. Wildlife officials rushed to the scene and began emergency treatment, but the calf succumbed to its injuries during treatment.

Police said the truck and its driver, a resident of Kekirawa, were taken into custody following the accident.

Wildlife officials revealed that the calf was part of a herd of wild elephants that had come to drink water at the Hiriwadunna Lake.

The Habarana Police and the Minneriya Wildlife Office have launched further investigations into the incident.