Kawanthissa, one of Sri Lanka’s tallest wild tuskers, died on Friday while receiving veterinary treatment, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced.
The elephant, believed to be between 50 and 60 years old, was found collapsed in a paddy field near Siyambalangamuwa in the Kurunegala District on Friday morning. Wildlife veterinarians had been treating a leg injury, believed to be a gunshot wound, since 24 September.
The Ministry of Environment had approved a veterinary team from Thailand to help treat the animal. It had asked the public to stay away from the site, saying crowds, noise and drones could stress the elephant.
Kawanthissa, about 11 feet tall with tusks more than six feet long, roamed the Galgamuwa, Usgala and Siyambalangamuwa areas. He was reportedly not known to have killed or injured anyone.
His death has renewed attention on the protection of the country’s remaining large tuskers, which face human-elephant conflict, habitat loss and shootings.
