Elephant keeps watch over dead calf

Wildlife officers have advised members of the public not to disturb a female elephant who is refusing to move away from the body of her dead calf. 

The incident has been reported from Demaliya Wewa in Wellawaya. Area residents had notified wildlife officers yesterday (31) that an elephant was roaming in the area last afternoon. 

Officers from the Lunugamwehera wildlife office who arrived at the site, had observed that the elephant was keeping watch over her calf, who was dead.

Judging by the body of the calf, officers said the elephant had likely given birth earlier in the day and the calf was stillborn. 

However, the elephant had not moved from the location, at times standing over her dead calf in a protective manner and also using her trunk to swipe at flies that were settling on the body.

Wildlife officers had stayed at the site for over three hours. But, as the elephant continued to stay beside the calf's body, they left the location. They also advised area residents not to disturb the elephant and to leave her in peace.

Story and Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi in Hambantota

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