Search underway for man who set fire to an elephant

The Department of Wildlife Conservation backed by security forces and police are searching for the offender who torched the wild elephant in the private property in Mihintale, seeppukulama, Ambagahawela.

Officials from Anuradhapura together with officials from army intelligence are  pursuing further investigations in relation to this issue.

At the same time developments concerning the death of the wild elephant was set to be reported to the courts today (17).

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, between the age of 50 to 55 a male elephant (9 feet) was shot and its front left leg was injured.

The  elephant was first spotted in the same area and has been treated by officers from the Pandulagama Veterinary Office on the 14th of May, 4th of June and 3rd of July 2025.

However, there was no further reports after this incident involving the elephant but the wildlife department officers are still observing the situation in the Anuradhapura district.

Yesterday (16th), the wildlife department was tipped off regarding the injured elephant with burn wounds and gunshot wounds in a private land located at Seeppukulama, Ambagahawela. After being informed of the situation by the Pandulagama Veterinary Office, the veterinary officers and Dr. Udeshika Madhuwanthi attended to the injured elephant.

However, the elephant died while under treatment.