Elephant calf dies after falling into trench made for laying railway signal cables

By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa   

A two-month-old baby elephant had fallen into a trench dug for railway signal cables at Horiwila, between Kekirawa and Habarana Railway Stations, and died despite the herd’s attempts to save it.

Residents of the area said a herd of about 30 wild elephants was crossing the railway line when one of the calves in the herd fell into the trench dug by railway employees to lay signal cables. 

They said the herd attempted to save the calf from the narrow but deep trench, but to no avail. After the herd left, the mother elephant remained there, striving until morning to save her calf. 

Residents of the area informed the wildlife officials, but the calf had died before they arrived. Although the residents and wildlife officials drove away the mother elephant to examine the calf, it was heard crying from the nearby jungle.