17 November 2023 12:30 am Views - 49
By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka
Judging from the pellets found in the head of the elephant recovered from Kirindi Oya at Thelulla colony in Kudaoya, wildlife conservators have decided that the jumbo had been shot dead.
Assistant Wildlife Conservator, Southern Province Upul Indrajith said two pellets had been recovered by Veterinary Surgeon of the Wildlife Conservation Department Dr. Ananda Dharmakirthi who performed the postmortem examination.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the jumbo had been shot dead, the carcass cut into pieces, and dumped in the river. Wildlife officers said other parts of the carcass were yet to be recovered.
Meanwhile Cultural and Environmental Studies Center (CES) that offered a cash prize to anyone who provides information on the killing of the wild elephant requested the public to call the Wildlife Department’s hot line 1992 or 0719005549 of the CES to provide information, if any.