• The she-elephants were about 25 years of age and the  calves six months

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.