An elephant shot dead in a toilet pit on the premises of St. Lena Forest Monastery

Wildlife officers from Ganewalpola succeeded in finding the carcass of an elephant that had fallen into a toilet pit, constructed for the use of devotees, on the premises of the St. Lena Aranya Senasanaya (forest monastery) located in the Medawewa area of Kekirawa, and died.

Acting immediately on a notification made by the Chief Monk of the Aranya Senasanaya, wildlife officers arrived at the relevant location and identified the carcass during their initial investigation.

During the inspection of the deceased elephant's body, officers also observed a wound in its back region, which they suspected to be a gunshot wound.

Accordingly, wildlife officers suspect that the elephant, wounded by a gunshot fired by an unknown individual and in severe pain, might have come to this area and stood on top of the toilet pit.

They further believe that while standing there, the elephant's weight could not be supported, causing the cover of the toilet pit to break, and the elephant fell into it and died.

The Ganewalpola Wildlife Office further stated that steps would be taken to officially report the facts regarding this tragic incident to the Kekirawa Magistrate's Court and to initiate further formal investigations through it.