It is reported that a wild elephant that was hit by a train running from Batticaloa to Colombo near the Mahaweli Bridge at around 8.30 this morning has also died.
The elephant was hit by the train while it was moving from Somawathi National Park to the Floodplain National Park. The elephant was a male animal of about twenty-five years old, said R.R. Shantha, Site Assistant at the Manampitiya Wildlife Office.
A team of wildlife officials including Giritale Wildlife Veterinarian Sameera Kalinguarachchi, rushed to the scene to treat the critically injured wild elephant, but the elephant, who had sustained serious injuries, has died. It is reported that the elephant’s spine has been damaged in the accident.