31 October 2023 12:00 am Views - 116
By Kushan Jayawardene
A herd of four wild elephants including two she-elephants and their calves that fell into an unprotected well in Kumbukwewa in Habarana were rescued and driven away to the nearby forest reserve.
Wildlife Conservators from Ganewelpola, Moragoda and Alagollewa wildlife units in Ritigala rushed to the scene and launched the operation that took hours, with the help of the residents of the area. They said the she-elephants were about 25 years of age and the calves six months.
The officials used excavators to dig up a trench from the bottom of the well to the ground level for the herd to come out. They said the herd going in search of fodder would have roamed into the village and fallen into the well.