Agbo elephant is found unharmed

The special joint operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to find the missing elephant Agbo unharmed was successful yesterday (19) morning. According to the Ministry of Defence, Agbo, who was found while staying in the Nachchadoowa reserve, is currently in good health, as confirmed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Behind this discovery was a massive joint search operation conducted by air and land. This operation, launched on the orders of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, reached a turning point the day before yesterday (18). With information received that the elephant Agbo had travelled from the Eruwewa area across the A-9 main road towards the Nachchadoowa Tank Reserve, search operations were further expanded, focusing on that area.

Accordingly, for the second consecutive day, operations commenced yesterday (19) morning in the vicinity of the Nachchadoowa Tank Reserve in Thrippane. A team of 50 soldiers, led by four officers from the 21st Infantry Division, participated in this. Concurrently, for aerial searches, one drone belonging to the Sri Lanka Army and two drones belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force were also deployed.

For this extensive operation, guidance was received from military officers including Major General Kaminda Silva, Brigadier Basnayake, and Major Silva. Concurrently, a special team led by Mr. Buddhika Athukorala, the Range Assistant at the Thrippane Range Wildlife Beat Office, provided the necessary guidance for the relevant wildlife operations.

As a result of the combined and persistent efforts of all sectors, this operation successfully concluded with Agbo being found again yesterday morning in the Nachchadoowa Tank Reserve.