Human - elephant conflict reports from Giritale, Hettipola and Ehetuwewa.

Numerous instances of confrontations between wild elephants and humans were reported in the recent past.

A sixty-five-year old man in Hettipola became the latest victim of this persisting issue early Sunday morning; while reports of elephants being shot were also received from Giritale and Ehetuwewa.

Sixty-five-year-old W. Jinadasa left his home in the Dahathara Ela area for the Hettipola town on Sunday to earn his living by selling greens.

However, en route, Jinadasa was attacked and killed by a wild elephant.

His body was found at first light on Sunday. Villagers

say that Jinadasa was hearing impaired and as such would not have heard the jumbo when he encroached on its territory.

Following news of the incident,  residents converged on the Hettipola - Hasalaka road and staged a demonstration.
They demanded that authorities take steps to re-locate wild elephants in the area.

The Divisional Secretary of Hasalaka, S.P. Nagahawaththa, arrived at the scene of the demonstration and promised the protesters that steps would be taken to re-locate wild elephants in the area within three days.
In a separate incident reported from Galeyaya, Bakamuna, a jumbo which was suffering from a   gunshot injury and was treated by wildlife officers in Girithale on Saturday, passed away this morning.

Wildlife Officers say the beast who is usually seen inside the Wasgamuwa Reserve, was about forty years of age.
Veterinarian Pramuditha Devasurendra said the elephant had been shot in the left fore-foot and that the wound was serious.

Meanwhile, a wild elephant with gunshot wounds in the spine and a foot, was discovered and treated today by Veterinarian Chandana Jayasinghe in Siyambalangamuwa, Ehetuwewa in Kurunegala.

Jayasinghe says the eight year old animal is in critical condition.