Seven wild elephant calves roaming around Polonnaruwa Dimbulagala Handapan Willuwa, got stuck in a marsh land. According to the Department of Wildlife, this marsh was covered by a an invasive water plant salvinia, also called as ”japan jabara”.
Due to torrential rains in recent days, a baby elephant has been washed away in the water in this area and 6 elephants who try to save the baby elephant. But at last the baby elephant who was washed away and auther six have also died. wild life offises’s says.
Two days ago, a person who went to bring cattle in the area saw a baby elephant and two big animals dead. Based on that information, wild life officers visit the palce and found the baby elephant and the other dead elephants, yesterday (26) afternoon, the dead bodies of 4 other elephants Have been able to see floating.
During the inspection of the place with the help of the local residents, an 8 feet tall male animal and a 7 feet tall female were also found. Later the officers of the Veheragala range office found 4 more baby elephants during the inspection.
Wildlife officials believe that these elephants are trapped on this salvenia (Japan Jabara) layer due to the torrential rains that fell on the 19th and 20th. A wildlife officer of Weheragala range told us that all these 7 baby elephants might have drowned due to the Japan Jabara layer, which was so hard enough to walk on the surface, that it became swampy with the rain. He further said that the dead baby elephants are under 15 years old.
Today (27) the officials of the Giritale Veterinary Unit will be conduct the post-mortem examinations.
A few years ago, 7 elephants died in the same way in Divlana willu.
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