Colombo, Oct.16 (Daily Mirror) - The health of Kavanthissa, the tusker receiving treatment in the Siyambalangamuwa area, is very poor as it is eating very little, the Department of Wildlife Conservation said today.
In a statement issued yesterday (16), the Department said a team of wildlife veterinarians, university professors and other experts was providing treatment to the elephant while closely monitoring its condition.
The elephant was first spotted by wildlife officials in the Siyambalangamuwa area on September 23. A veterinary team from the Nikaweratiya Veterinary Office began treating it the following day.
Veterinarians administered antibiotics and collected blood samples for laboratory tests. The elephant received treatment for four days, and its condition began to improve.
Wildlife officials later observed that the elephant had returned to its usual route between Siyambalangamuwa and Thambuttegama.
However, treating the elephant was difficult as it was in musth, a period of increased hormonal activity in male elephants.
The elephant's condition began to worsen again on October 6 and 7. Tests on its faecal samples showed that it was suffering from diarrhoea. Officials also found that the elephant was refusing food.
The veterinary team resumed treatment with the help of specialist veterinarians from across the country.
Officials have been closely monitoring the elephant's movements and behaviour. They observed that it spends the daytime in water and walks on land for short periods at night.
Veterinarians believe the elephant is in very poor physical condition because it is eating very little.
The Department said treatment was being provided with the involvement of wildlife veterinary officers, professors from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Peradeniya and other veterinary experts. Director General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens Chandana Rajapaksa is also involved in the efforts.
Blood samples were collected from the elephant again on the morning of October 16 and sent for laboratory tests. The veterinary team is using the test results to decide on the next steps in its treatment.
Meanwhile, the Department has asked the public not to visit the sick elephant, take photographs or use drones to record videos.
It warned that these activities could cause stress to the elephant and asked the public not to disturb or obstruct the veterinary teams treating it.
The Department said all necessary steps were being taken to treat the elephant and urged the public to give the veterinary teams the space they need to carry out their work.