‘Meena Gaya’ derails after elephant collision

Batticaloa bound ‘Meena Gaya’ intercity train has collided with a wild elephant yesterday and derailed, the Welikanda Police said.

The train plying from Colombo to Batticaloa has hit a female elephant around 2 a.m. on Monday morning between the Moragollagama and KonWewa railway stations near Welikanda.

The elephant believed to be about 20 years old was severely injured and wildlife veterinary surgeons have attended to the injured elephant, local media reports said.

The passengers of the train were not hurt due to the derailment.

Measures to re-rail the train has started promptly, the Railway Department said.

The Batticaloa bound train collided with an elephant on Sunday early morning also in Palugasweva area killing the elephant. The train derailed after striking the elephant. (Colombopage)

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Middle‐aged man killed by wild ele‐ phant

A 40-year-old man had been killed by a wild elephant in the Pulasthipura area on Thursday
night. The man, who had been on a pilgrimage to the Somawathiya Cheithiya had been
confronted by the elephant near the Sungawila Wildlife Office on the Polonnaruwa-somawathiya
Road.

The deceased had been identised as Nalin Dhammika of Hali Ela, Badulla. The
Pulasthipura Police are investigating.

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Wild elephant captured in Aselapura

Colombo (News1st): Wildlife officials have captured a wild elephant who was roaming in Aselapura last evening (October 15).

Officers stated the elephant who had been roaming around the villages of Aselapura and Welikanda was also reponsible for the deaths of four individuals.

The News1st correspondent in the area said that an operation was carried out for over three days to capture this wild elephant. Wildlife Officials from Welikanda, Ampara, Polonaruwa and Giritale took part in the operation.

Steps have been taken to relocate the elephant to the Horowpathana Elephant Sanctuary.

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Elephant injured in collision with ‘Meenagaya’ dies

The wild elephant which was in critical condition after colliding with the ‘Meenagaya’ Batticaloa-Colombo express train has died, stated Ada Derana reporter.

The accident had occurred at around 9.45 pm last night (09) and wild life officials have been treating the elephant for its injuries.

However, the critical condition of the elephant and massive internal bleeding had caused the elephant to die, stated Wildlife officials.

The Veterinary Unit of the Wildlife Department will be conducting the postmortem of the elephant tomorrow (11).

The accident had occurred in Monarathenna-Welikanda area on the Batticaloa-Colombo railway track.

No damage to the train or to the railway track has been reported.

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Speeding train collides with another elephant

A speeding train on the Colombo-Batticaloa railway line has collided with a wild elephant near Welikanda area last night (09) and the elephant is currently in critical condition, said Ada Derana reporter.

The Meena Gaya intercity express train, which had been en route to Batticaloa from Colombo Fort, had collided with the elephant last night at around 9.45 p.m.

However, no damages have been caused to the railway track or the train due to the accident, according to Ada Derana reporter.

Reportedly, veterinary surgeons of Giritale Wildlife Office have arrived at the scene and commenced giving treatment to the critically wounded elephant.

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Retired soldier killed in elephant attack

A retired army soldier had died this morning (03) due to an attack by a wild elephant in Indigahawewa area in Eppawala, according to Ipalogama Police.

The deceased is identified as S.M. Ranjith Rathnayake, a 48-year-old retired army soldier and father of three residing in Walayakulam village, Indigahawewa of Tirappane Divisional Secretariat.

The deceased had been travelling on a motorcycle to ‘Ali Sthanaya’ junction in Tirappane with his uncle at around 05.30 a.m. today when two wild elephants had obstructed their path.

The two individuals had then fled the scene to save their lives leaving the motorcycle behind.

Assuming that the two elephants had left the location, the deceased and his uncle had returned to the location where they had abandoned the motorcycle.

One of the two elephants had then charged towards the two individuals and attacked the retired army soldier.

He had died on the spot after sustaining critical injuries in the attack, the police said.

The residents charge that their village is constantly under threat due to wild elephants and the lack of proper maintenance of the elephant-proof fence has caused a casualty in this manner.

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Wild elephant flees from Kurunegala to Rambukkana

A wild elephant that had fled during a mission in Kappetigala, Kurunegala, has spotted in Halagiriya, Rambukkana.

Our correspondents said that a special operation by Wildlife Conservation Officers and Special Task Force is underway since this morning to chase the wild elephant away.

The Operation Director of the Wildlife Conservation Department, Manjula Amararathna urged the general public to refrain from visiting the area to witness the elephant.

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Madunagala elephant operation a success

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Wildlife officers managed to successfully complete an operation to drive out a group of wild elephants in the Madunagala area in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.

Elephants regularly roam the Madunagala area due to the availability of food sources. In some instances, their actions have claimed the lives of area residents and caused damage to their properties.

Wildlife officers drove out 4 elephants into the reserve during the operation that was launched at 8 last night. The operation that had been launched by the wildlife officers lasted for a grueling 10 hours.

Earlier this week the Deputy Minister of Wildlife, Palitha Thewarapperuma also got involved in the operation.

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2 dead in Ambanpola wild elephant attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two people have been killed in separate wild elephants attacks which occurred in the area falling under the purview of the Ambanpola Police Division.

Police said a 34-year-old man was killed in a wild elephant attack in Paththinigala Ambanpola last night (July 11). The victim was attacked when he came out of his house to answer a phone call.

A 62-year-old woman also died in Nelumpathwewa, Ambanpola after being attacked by a wild elephant. Police said she fell victim to the attack while she was on her way to the temple.

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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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Wild elephant attack in Girandurukotte claims the life of wild life officer

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A wildlife officer was attacked and killed by a wild elephant in the Viranagama area in Giradurukotte.

Police said the incident occurred during an operation to drive away a heard of wild elephants from the area last evening.

The victim was 53-year-old M.A. Wasantha, a resident of the Palathuruwella area in Padiyatalawa and was serving as a Guard for the Department of Wildlife.

The victim’s remains have been placed at the Girandurukotte Regional hospital.


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Wild elephant attacks in Nawula and Horowpathana

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two people has been killed in a wild elephant attack in the Lihinipitiya area in Nawula. Police said that the incident occurred while the two victims, aged 29 and 30, were returning home from a relative’s house.

Meanwhile a Buddhist monk was attacked by a wild elephant in the Wewalkatiya area on the Medawachchiya – Horowpathana road early last morning.Our correspondent said the Thero who was initially admitted to the Rathmalgahawewa Hospital was attacked by an elephant from the Olandawa Reserve in Horowpathana.

The Thero was thereafter transferred to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for further treatment.


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Woman killed in wild elephant attack in Amparai

Wildlife officials have widened the search operations to locate Deegadanthu, the wild elephant with the longest tusks in the Kalawewa National Park.

Wildlife officials said that they did not see the tusker that suffered a serious trap-gun injury in one of its legs.

Deegadanthu was reported missing from last Monday (Jun 18).

The veterinarian in charge of North Western and Anuradhapura, Chandana Jayasinghe said that a search operation is currently underway in Kahalla, Pallekelle forest reserve.

Meanwhile, a 55-year old woman was killed in a wild elephant attack at Raswehera in Galgamuwa early this morning (Jun 25).

It was revealed that nearly 10 persons were killed in wild elephant attacks during over the last several days.


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Operation launched to catch rogue elephant inside Ridiyagama Safari Park

Wildlife officers have launched a special operation to capture a wild elephant that gained entry into the Ridiyagama Safari Park in Amabalantota. The elephant had entered the park after breaking through one of its gates this morning (24).

Officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said that the elephant was attacking other elephants inside the park and had also attempted to enter areas of the park inhabited by other animals.

Area residents said that the lone elephant had been roaming the area even prior to the construction of the safari park.

Following a call for assistance, officers from Udawalawa, Mauara and the Hambantota Wildlife office, as well as veterinarians from the Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home, have joined the operation to capture the elephant.

Journalists who attrmpted to cover the operation to capture the elephant were prevented from entering the park by wildlife officers, citing concerns over their safety.

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Wildlife officer critically injured in elephant attack

Wildlife officer critically injured in elephant attack....

Three persons including a Wildlife official were hospitalized after they were attacked by a wild elephant in Nintavur Allimul area at Samanthurai in Amparai.

Police said that they had attempted to chase away a herd of wild elephants that had entered the village.

Then the wild elephants had attacked the injured persons, who were admitted to Amparai General Hospital.

However, as the condition of the wildlife official was serious, he was transferred to Kandy General Hospital.

Later, steps were taken to provide shelter to the villagers at a safe location.

Police said the wild elephants have been chased away to the jungle.

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Wild elephant electrocuted (Photos)

A wild elephant has died of electrocution in Randeniya, Wellawaya.

Investigations found that the wild elephant got contacted with an illegally laid power line early this morning (Mar. 24).

The wildlife officials guess the age of the dead animal to be around 15 to 25 years.

This power line was laid over the Kirindi Oya and due to a short circuit, several other animals and fish had electrocuted in the area.

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Wild elephants destroy cultivations in Kekirawa

The residents of Kekirawa say that a herd of wild elephants roaming in Kekirawa, Horapola, and Moragollagama is destroying their cultivations.

Our correspondent said paddy fields, coconut trees, and other crops have been destroyed in those villages.

The area residents accused that authorities have erected a substandard electric fence, allowing the wild elephants to breach the fence easily.

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Ballistic Shockwave Sensors For Wild Elephants

The Government has drawn its attention to replacing the existing GPS collars with ballistic shock sensors to identify wild elephants.

Several environmental activists’ organizations met Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera yesterday (05) to discuss the killing of the tusker, Galgamuwe Dala Poottuwa and other issues with regard to wild elephants.

The environmental activist, Shashikalana Ratwatta told our news team that they decided to x
40 ballistic shock sensor collars to wild elephants under the rest phase of the programme.

Meanwhile, police arrested 3 suspects with 3 elephant pearls in their possession at Palukandawa in Galgamuwa yesterday (05).

The seized elephant pearls are believed to have been extracted from the slain tusker, Galgamuwe Dala Poottuwa.

The suspects who have been arrested on a tip-off, are residents of Galgamuwa.

Earlier, 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of the tusker.

Several elephant pearls and a few ivory pendants believed to have been made of the tusks of the slain wild elephant were also seized by the police thereafter.

In addition, CID is continuing investigations to arrest few more suspects linked to the killing of the tusker.

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Five arrested over elephant killing in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan police have arrested five men for allegedly killing a wild elephant, with officers seizing ivory and tusk-cutting tools, officials said Friday.

Villagers in the island’s northwest had alerted wildlife authorities after a popular local elephant called “Dala Poottuwa”, or crossed tusker, disappeared.

Its carcass was later found with a bullet wound in the skull.

Authorities broke up what they say is a poaching network as part of their investigation, charging five men with killing the elephant.

“They had in their possession several tools used to cut tusks (and) two ivory pendants,” said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera.

Elephants are protected under Sri Lankan law and poachers can face the death penalty for killing one.
Tusked elephants are rare in Sri Lanka, accounting for less than five per cent of the island’s estimated elephant population of around 6000.

That figure has declined from the last official census of the island’s elephants, which identified more than 7300 animals.

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Another tusker shot dead at Karuwalagaswewa

Not many days after the killing of the well-known tusker, the Dala Poottuwa and the arrest of five suspects in this connection; five more suspects were arrested on charges of having shot dead another tusker in Karuwalagaswewa.

Its body was found near the Thabbowa reservoir in Karuwalagaswewa on Wednesday morning.

The Puttalam Wildlife Conservation Department Assistant Director W.M.K.S. Chandraratne said Veterinary Surgeon Chandana Jayasinghe who carried out the postmortem examination had in his report identified the elephant's death was caused by gunshot injuries to its liver and the resultant internal bleeding.

Villagers said the 18-year-old elephant with with its four-foot pair of tusks was not often seen outside the jungle area it inhabited.

The tusks were taken into custody by the wildlife department.

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