Three more elephants found dead at Thumbikulam reserve
Three more elephants have been found dead at the Thumbikulam reserve at Habarana, bringing the total number of elephants found dead at the park to seven, officials of the department of Wildlife Conservation ( DWC) said yesterday.
Officials said they discovered the carcasses of four dead elephants on Friday and subsequently found another three dead animals.
Officers said they believed all the dead animals were from a single herd, all the animals were female and ranged between the age of 25 to 35 years.
Director General of the DWC, Chandana Sooriyabandara, told the Sunday Times they had reported the death of the seven elephants to the Kekirawa Magistrate. He added that two veterinary surgeons carried out the post mortem into the deaths of the animals, adding that “another veterinary surgeon is scheduled to go there today to carry out investigations into the mysterious deaths”
The Depar tment of Wi l d l i f e Conservation would be producing a progress report to Court to get an order to send samples collected at the post mortem for further investigation.
Meanwhile the body of a tusker had been found in Moragahawewa in Puttlam. Veterinary Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe, said he believed the animal - around 7 feet tall and 15 years old had died of poisoning. He added one of the tusks of the beast was missing and suspected that whoever attempted to retrieve the tusks was unable to remove the other as the animal had fallen in a muddy area.