This year alone 61 wild elephants killed: DWC

The death toll of wild elephants in the Mahaweli Wildlife Zone has been increasing in alarming
rate much to the anxiety of the Wildlife Conservations. Asst. Director, Mahaweli Wildlife
Zone W.d.m.j.wickremesinghe said statistically 61 wild elephants had died from January to
date and that most of them had died due to human activities or accidents.

He said most of them had been electrocuted, run over by train or had drowned in abandoned
wells or marshes. The official pointed out several wild elephants had died of injuries caused
by the locally made explosive devise “Hakka Patas” and of gunshot injuries and several calves
had fallen prey to the Hakka Pattas explosive device. He pointed out that the death toll of wild
elephants had increased this year in a large proportion when compared to the previous years.

Wildlife Conservation officer said 21 people had been killed by wild elephants for the year to
date. He pointed out that the human –elephant conflict was going on unchecked despite preventive
measures taken by the department of wildlife conservations (DWC).

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Wild elephant electrocuted in Wellawaya (Photos)

A wild elephant was electrocuted inside a private land in Neluwagala, Wellawaya, last night (Jun 13).

Our correspondent said that the elephant had got contacted with a live power line that connected to a water pump.

Investigations are underway to ascertain whether that the power line was laid purposely to harm the animals.

A wildlife official said that the wild elephant was aged around 25 to 30 years.

Our correspondent said that human-elephant conflict has affected the Wellawaya area and many cultivated lands have been destroyed by encroaching wild elephants.


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