Two jumbos killed, another wounded

Yasaratne Gamage

Wild life officials in Anuradhapura have commenced investigations into the death of two jumbos, a tusker found dead in Koongollwewa, Medawachchiya and another, poisoned in Herathgama, Kurunegala. They also found another adolescent elephant, seriously wounded by a trap gun in Kalagama, Galkiriyagama.

The carcass of the huge tusker with its tusks removed was found in a jungle in Koongollewa, Medawachchiya by the Wild Life rangers attached to Vavuniya on Monday following information received from a villager.

Its two tusks, more than three and half feet in length, had been hewed. The wild life rangers removed the rest of the tusks from the carcass to be sent for further investigations.

They believe the carcass had been at the spot for more than five days. The post mortem is due today. Wild Life officials are trying to ascertain if the dead tusker is Mahakanadarawa Andaya as it is popularly known in the area. The Army and Police have also commenced a search operation to trace the suspects, who had removed the two tusks.

Meanwhile, Wild Life Conservation Department veterinary surgeon Chandana Jayasinghe conducted the post mortem on the second jumbo found dead in a canal in Herathgama, Kurunegala. It was nine feet tall and about 35-40-years-old . The elephant had come to the canal to slake its thirst after being ingested with poison and died around five days ago.

Another elephant wounded in the legs after becoming a victim of a trap gun in Galkiriyagama, Kalagama is in a serious condition, Dr Chandana said.

The animal was treated on Monday but the fractured bones of its foreleg prevents it from going about after food, and the wounds are critical, he added.