Elephant death:

Mahouts on the hook

Police have been called to investigate the death of the elephant "Neelagiri" Zoological Department Director Bashwara Gunaratne said. "We will take stern action against officials who failed to supervise mahouts," he added.

Two mahouts and a curator have been suspended following the death of a 23-year-old male pachyderm in their care, a Pinnawela elephant orphanage senior official said

The elephant named Neelagiri, had died of wounds suffered when its keepers had jabbed it with sharp implements in November at the Pinnawela orphanage, the Director revealed.

Neelagiri, who died Monday, had been brought to Pinnawela in 1989 when he was thought to be about one year old.

Gunaratne said the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage had assembled a team of veterinary surgeons to treat Neelagiri in an effort to save his life. "Sadly, we failed," he said.