Police have arrested a man suspected of shooting Kavantissa, the celebrated wild tusker that died on 16 October after weeks of treatment for a gunshot wound.
The suspect was taken into custody in the Galgamuwa area during a joint operation by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, police said. Two firearms were recovered.
Investigators have not yet established whether the weapons were used in the shooting. Police said further inquiries are under way to determine the circumstances of the incident.
The Ministry of Environment said on Sunday (18 October) that it had lodged a formal complaint with the Inspector General of Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It asked them to investigate whether an organised group or syndicate is systematically targeting wild elephants across the country, and to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The Ministry also asked that the inquiry be transparent and free of interference, and that police provide regular updates on its progress and any legal action taken. It said the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the armed forces, the Special Task Force and the police were continuing joint operations and raids to protect elephants.
Background
Kavantissa, regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s best-known wild tuskers, had a reported gunshot injury to his right front leg. Wildlife veterinarians treated him from 24 September, with several teams deployed in efforts to save him. He died on 16 October.
His death prompted widespread public concern. Environmentalists and conservation groups demanded an independent investigation into the shooting and into the veterinary treatment he received.
A separate search is under way for another prominent elephant, Agbo. The Environment Ministry said a special military team was deployed after the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence gave instructions following talks with the Minister of Environment. The Daily Mirror reported that the search would resume on Monday.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met wildlife conservationists and civil society representatives on Sunday. He called for constitutional amendments to extend fundamental rights protections to elephants, wildlife and the environment so that violations could be challenged in court. He also proposed a dedicated elephant hospital, an emergency veterinary response team, a special protection unit for prominent tuskers, and a national database of elephants. Mr Premadasa said he would seek details in Parliament on Kavantissa’s blood test results, post-mortem findings and treatment.
What it means
The arrest is the first publicly reported detention linked to the shooting, but no charges have been announced, and the suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence until a court rules otherwise.
For communities living near elephant habitats, and for the tourism and conservation sectors that depend on Sri Lanka’s wild elephants, the outcome of the CID inquiry will indicate whether the shootings are isolated acts or part of a wider pattern, as the Ministry has asked investigators to determine.
