Deegadanthu 01 no more

One of the largest and iconic tuskers, "Deegadanthu 01" who roamed near Kalawewa area was electrocuted.

The incident had occurred when the tusker had ventured near a home garden where the owner had electrified the fence tapping power from the main power line.

The Director General of Department if wildlife Conservation (DWC), Chandana Sooriyabandara said that the DWC officers are currently preparing facts presented to courts and produce the resident who illegally tapped electricity to his fence tomorrow.

He added that after the facts are presented to courts they would conduct a post mortem of the tusker which was found dead.

DG explained that they would take custody of the tusks after obtaining  a court order.

Meanwhile environmental activist and the Chair of Human-Elephant Coexistence Subcommittee, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, Supun Lahiru Prakash said that the elephants at the Kalawewa area are having issue of finding food as the Kalawewa tank remains filled trough out the year due to a hydro project.

As the water levels does not recede the grass which grows on the tank bed did not appear, leaving elephants less food to consume leaving the elephants roam elsewhere to find food.

Mr Prakash added that the tusker which was killed was one of the largest and iconic ones. He noted that foreign countries provide special security to iconic animals in their countries “Kenya provided security to “Ahamed” a tusker which had the longest tusks.

However the DWC does not have adequate number of officials or infrastructure to carry out such action and consider iconic tuskers as another elephant.

He added that the government should consider the human elephant issue as a national issue and implement the National Action plan human elephant conflict resolution by appointing a presidential task force.