Three more elephants killed in Sri Lanka, bringing toll to seven
Wildlife officials found three more dead wild elephants in central Sri Lanka Saturday, raising the number believed to have been poisoned by angry villagers to seven.
The animals were found at a forest reserve near Sigiriya, a fifth-century rock fortress and UNESCO-protected heritage site, police said.
“Since Friday, we have found the remains of seven cow elephants, including a tusker,” police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.
Nearly 200 elephants are killed every year on the island, many by farmers after the animals stray onto their land.
Marauding elephants kill roughly 50 people annually, mostly when the creatures stray into villages near their habitat.
A pregnant female and a male were among the four carcasses found on Friday.
Wildlife experts and vets will carry out autopsies, said a police official in Sigiriya, north of Colombo, as they suspect the animals may have been poisoned.
Police said there had been a spate of incidents involving wild elephants storming villages and destroying crops in the area.
Killing the animals is in theory punishable by death.
Sri Lanka’s elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000, according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 at the beginning of the last century.
(AFP)
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What a shame to kill these majestic innocent animals. This suppose to be a Buddhist country.
We are no longer a 100% Buddhist country! Animal sacrifices carry on regardless of what the majority want.
Anyone who promotes or vocalises Buddhist values and culture is labelled ” an extremist”!
Our Buddhist heritage, past and present, cannot guarantee the action of people.
That said, the killing of these elephants is both shocking and sad, especially as we are supposed to protect them.
Find the real culprits and do the same to them ASAP.
This reminds me what happened to one of a EX President during May 1st Rally.
Pieces were collected by spades. Son follows father and end up in a similar way if the rumors are true
Maraya,
Your comments a strong.
Hope the serial liar, Son of RP does not end up like his ‘illustrious’ dad.
I am sure he will not end up like that.
The serial liar, Son of RP, will be in the National Rubbish Bin after Presidential Elections. He is bound to lose his position in the UNP as Deputy Leader.