• Environmentalists seek experts’ probe comm. into ‘flaws’ in treatment/care  
• Wildlife DG ordered to take steps for strict enforcement of law against wild animal shooters 

Injured tusker ‘Bhathiya’ who was receiving treatment for several days for gunshot wounds succumbed yesterday morning (15) in Polpithigama.

Veterinarians and a team of experts treated ‘Bhathiya’ for gunshot wounds sustained approximately two months ago. Subsequently, the wild tusker recently fell into a water pit and met with an accident.

Following a gunshot injury, a team led by the former Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Ashoka Dangolla, worked around the clock to provide treatment. However, veterinarians stated that the tusker was in critical condition due to muscle degeneration and impaired blood circulation. After receiving treatment for several days, the tusker was turned to the other side on Monday (14), in an attempt to support recovery.

‘Bhathiya’ was between 30 and 35 years of age.

Environmentalists, alleging that the treatment and care for the wounded wild elephant Bhathiya were not handled in a proper manner, urged that an independent expert committee be appointed to probe the elephant’s death and to take action against the responsible parties. Addressing a press briefing yesterday (15), the Wildlife Conservation Forum's Secretary Nayanaka Ranwella further opined that the improper provision of treatment and care may have exacerbated the elephant’s condition. He added that the elephant’s death sends a message that environmental conservation and land management should be handled scientifically and according to a national plan. Among the treatment and care-related concerns raised by Ranwella were, not conducting an x-ray of the elephant’s leg swelling when it was first found in May, not providing a platform to support the elephant’s legs to hold its body weight, using unsuitable straps and unsuitable methods to lift the elephant, keeping the elephant in water during the provision of treatments, and flaws in obtaining blood for tests, and in the diagnosis. He alleged that despite instructions, internationally accepted practices were not followed, and that the relevant authorities did not have adequate knowledge about managing the situation.

Attempts to contact the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) regarding these allegations were not successful.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held yesterday at the Ministry of Environment with officials from the DWC, aimed at tightening laws against the shooting of wild elephants. The discussion was chaired by the Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi. Incidents involving the shooting of wild elephants are regularly reported to the department. Therefore, Dr. Patabendi instructed the Director General of the department to take the necessary steps to strictly enforce the law against such acts. The discussion also focused on strengthening the process of punishing offenders by updating laws related to the killing of wild animals. It also emphasised enforcing strict laws against the illegal construction of electric fences on private lands, which often harm elephants. To help reduce the human-elephant conflict, the ministry and the department are working together on long-term, positive solutions. Accordingly, elephant fences are being built in districts with frequent elephant encounters. Furthermore, multi-purpose officers have been recruited for the maintenance of these fences. Additionally, the involvement of Civil Defence personnel is being considered to further reduce incidents of wild elephant shootings. The department announced that a special media briefing will be held in the coming days to inform the public about these initiatives.