SLAF vets called into capture wild elephants

Veterinarians from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had to be called into help capture two wild elephants as veterinarians attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) refused to help capture them.  

The wild elephants were roaming around the Kuttigala area after moving through Suriyawewa in Hambantota to Walasmulla and back to Kuttigala over the past several months. 

However, the DWC was unable to summon its vets to capture the elephants as they have decided to refrain from assisting in the capture of wild elephants from September 15 on account of several demands. 

Accordingly, Kuttigala Police had to obtain a court order from the Embilipitiya Magistrate's Court to get assistance from veterinarians of the SLAF to capture the animals. 

Accordingly, the elephants were captured today (7) after a two day operation with the assistance of the SLAF's vets and DWC officers. 

The elephants, aged between 15 and 18 years, will be taken to a forest reserve and released, the DWC said.

Text and Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi in Hambantota

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