Jumbo’s death: Wildlife men on sticky wicket

Irangika RANGE

LUNUGAMVEHERA: The Wildlife Department is probing why wildlife officers had not turned up to rescue a wild elephant that had fallen into a cess pit in Lunugamvehera on Wednesday night. The elephant died in agony the same night.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has ordered the Assistant Director of Wildlife Southern Range S.A. Muthubanda to probe the incident and submit a report immediately.

Pending the investigation, three employees attached to the nearest wildlife office have been interdicted.

Villagers have complained to the Minister that they informed the wildlife office by telephone and also in person, but none of the employees seemed interested in rescuing the pachyderm as they were busy watching the Sri Lanka-England World Cup cricket encounter.

Minister Ranawaka said any employee found guilty of dereliction of duty would be severely punished.