Critically injured wild elephant succumbs to its injuries

By Kushan Jayawardene   

The wild elephant which was found lying in a abandoned paddy field in a critical condition due to serious gunshot injuries died yesterday despite attempts of wildlife officers to save its life.   

The Nikaweratiya Veterinary Surgeon for the North Western Wildlife Zone Dr. Isuru Hewakottage said the jumbo was about ten years old and about six feet tall. He said that he had rushed to the scene last Sunday (21) on information from the public and provided treatment to the jumbo but to no avail.   

Dr. Hewakottage said the jumbo had been shot in the chest causing serious injuries in the internal organs and that he found several lead pellets in the lungs. The officials said the wild elephant from the Pallekele sanctuary had roamed into the village and had been shot by an unidentified individual. The carcass was handed over to the Grama Niladhari of the area for burial.   

 The wildlife conservators in Galkiriyagama range are conducting investigations with the assistance of the police to arrest the individual who shot the jumbo.