Lankan authorities investigate deaths of seven wild elephants

Investigations by Sri Lankan authorities are underway as the carcasses of seven dead wild elephants were pulled out of a marsh.

Wildlife Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma told AFP  six out of the seven animals found in the swamp were young -- below the age of 12 -- and he suspected that many more may have died there.

"We have wildlife experts and vets who are investigating the cause," Thewarapperuma told AFP from Polonnaruwa.

He said a possible reason was that the swamp is currently strewn with water hyacinth, an invasive plant known locally as Japan Jabara.

The swamp is located on a migratory route and the animals may have become bogged down and exhausted battling through the plants and then drowned.

Japan Jabara was introduced to Sri Lanka at the turn of the last century and has spread rapidly since World War II.

Allied forces stationed in Sri Lanka planted the free-floating species on waterways in a bid to mislead Japanese pilots on bombing missions into thinking that they were grassy fields suitable for landing in emergency.

"It is heartbreaking to see so many young elephants killed here. We are trying to see how we can flush out the Japan Jabara and make this area safe again," Thewarapperuma said.

The Sri Lankan elephant population in the wild is estimated at 7,500.