Investigations have been launched into a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a man torturing and setting fire to a wild elephant in the Ambagahawala area of Seeppukulama, Mihintale, according to the Wildlife Conservation Department. Wildlife Conservation officers attached to the Anuradhapura Wildlife Sanctuary, including the Wildlife Conservation officer, are continuing investigations in collaboration with officers from the Military Intelligence to locate and arrest the suspect.

Details surrounding the death of the elephant were scheduled to be presented to court yesterday (17).

The deceased wild elephant was a male, aged between 50 and 55 years, measuring approximately nine feet in height. The elephant had previously been sighted in the same area suffering from a gunshot wound to its front left leg and had received treatment from officers of the Pandulagama Veterinary Office on 14 May, 4 June, and 3 July. Subsequently, Anuradhapura Wildlife Conservation officers received information that the elephant had been found lying on a plot of land in Ambagahawala, with burn injuries as well as gunshot wounds. Upon being informed, veterinary surgeon Udeshika Madhuwanthi and officials from the Pandulagama Veterinary Office arrived at the location and commenced treatment. Despite medical treatments, the wild elephant succumbed to its injuries on Tuesday (16).