The carcass of a wild elephant has been found in a wooded area near a paddy field adjoining Kayangollaewa Tank in the Meeminnawala area of Kahatagasdigiliya.

Officers from the Kahatagasdigiliya Wildlife Office discovered the carcass and observed that the elephant's left tusk was missing.

Wildlife officers suspect that someone may have cut off and removed the tusk. They also believe the elephant may have been dead for some time before its carcass was discovered.

The Kahataagasdigiliya Wildlife Office, Divulwewa Police and the Army have launched further investigations into the incident.

The discovery comes less than a month after the death of Kawanthissa, another prominent elephant.