Colombo, October 20 (Daily Mirror) - Following the death of the tusker Kavantissa, several cases involving sick and injured elephants have been reported in different parts of the country, with wildlife officials and veterinarians providing medical treatment and monitoring the animals.
An elephant known as ‘Agbo’ was spotted yesterday afternoon by wildlife officials and military personnel in the Nachchaduwa Tank Reserve.
Popularly known as the ‘Thirappane’ elephant, Agbo recovered several years ago after receiving treatment from wildlife veterinarians and officials following a gunshot injury that left it in critical condition in the Thirappane area.
Officials observed that Agbo was in good health and was experiencing musth, a period of heightened hormonal activity in male elephants. Wildlife officers in Thirappane continue to monitor the animal closely.
Meanwhile, wildlife officers are providing round-the-clock care for a sick elephant calf in the Wewalketiya area of Pihiniyagollewa, Anuradhapura. Officials said necessary medical treatment would continue.
On October 18, wildlife veterinarians Sameera Kalinguarachchi and Dinusha de Silva of the Giritale Wildlife Veterinary Centre treated a male elephant, estimated to be about 12 years old, which had fallen ill and collapsed in a paddy field in the Gallalla area of the Polonnaruwa Flood Plains National Park.
Wildlife officers in the Polonnaruwa division are providing the elephant with essential care, including food and water.
Officials have urged the public not to visit the site to see the animal, warning that approaching it or attempting to photograph or film it could increase its stress and obstruct the work of veterinarians and wildlife officers.
In another incident, a wildlife veterinary team led by Giritale-based veterinary officer Sameera Kalinguarachchi recently treated an elephant, estimated to be about 35 years old and measuring approximately nine feet six inches in height, which had sustained a gunshot injury to one of its front legs in the Welikanda area.
A wildlife veterinary team from Pandulagama, Anuradhapura, also recently treated a wild elephant that had sustained an injury to its right front leg in the Sippukulama area.
Meanwhile, medical treatment was administered on October 15 to an elephant that had sustained gunshot injuries in the Siyambalangamuwa area, despite heavy rainfall.
The treatment was carried out under the supervision of Director of Wildlife Health Dr. Ganga Wijesinghe, veterinarians Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe of Pandulagama and Dr. Isuru Hewakotta of Nikaweratiya, and veterinary surgeons from the Pinnawala Zoological Gardens.
Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi was also present to observe the treatment and review the elephant’s condition, the ongoing medical care and the conservation measures required.
It was decided to deploy a drone equipped with night-vision technology to monitor the elephant’s movements after dark. Wildlife field officers from the Meegalewa and Galgamuwa ranges were also assigned to keep the animal under observation throughout the night.
The incidents have drawn attention to the continuing challenges faced by wildlife officials in treating and protecting sick and injured wild elephants across the country.