WILD ELEPHANT WITH SEVERAL GUNSHOT INJURIES CAPTURED

Awild elephant having several wound marks on its body and also having lost its eyesight had been located roaming on the Dambulla- Habarana Main Road near Digampathana, residents said. They said that the elephant had been frequenting the Digampathana, Habarana, Meegaswewa, Hiriwadunna, Avudangawa areas during the day time and destroyed houses, and shops that sold fruits and vegetables.

The Rangers of the Wildlife Conservation Department at the Sigiriya Range Office launched an operation to drive away the elephant.

However, they said that they had observed that the elephant was deaf and had lost it sight

However, they said that they had observed that the elephant was deaf and had lost it sight.

Later the elephant was tranquillized by Veterinary Surgeon Dr W.M. Dharmakeerthi and was tied.

Despite the heavy rains the officers were involved in an exhaustive operation in treating the animal.

The team of officers had also observed wound marks all over the body of the animal, prompting them to suspect that it had been subject to gunshot injuries.

The officers attending to the animal said that they suspected that being blind and unable to bear the pain of its wounds the elephant had strayed onto areas of human habitats.

The injured elephant would be moved into a safer area shortly, rangers said.