Deega Danthu 1’s death costs Sri Lanka Rs. 90 million annually: Environmentalist

Colombo, November 29 (Daily Mirror) - The sudden death of the elephant Deega Danthu 1 has caused the country an annual loss of approximately Rs. 90 million in foreign exchange, environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwella claimed.

Addressing the media, he said some foreign tourists travelled great distances specifically to see this elephant.

This elephant lived in the Kalawewa, Balalu Wewa and Horapola areas in Kekirawa. It was found dead after becoming entangled in an illegal electric fence in the Inguru Wewa area.

Earlier, the elephant Deega Danthu 2 was killed following an attack by another elephant two years ago. Both Deega Danthu 1 and 2 were iconic to the Kalawewa area, known for their beauty and their ability to attract tourists.

Ranwella said that authorities had been warned about the construction of illegal electric fences and urged to remove them. Unfortunately, no measures have been taken to ensure the safety of these majestic animals.

"Previously, the elephant Walagamba was a dominant figure in the Kalawewa area, but it disappeared in late 2011. No clues were found about its disappearance and its body, skeleton or tusks, have not been found so far," Ranwella said.

He added that they suspect the elephant was killed for its tusks. In subsequent years, elephants such as Neela and Rewatha were also found dead, believed to have been killed.

Despite repeated complaints to responsible authorities, they have remained silent on the matter.

Currently, elephants Mahasen and Kawanthissa remain in the forest, but there is no guarantee of their safety. Ranwella urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to ensure the protection of these remaining elephants.