Wild elephant inured after consuming an explosive

Colombo (News1st): A wild elephant was reportedly injured after falling victim to an explosive used by Wildlife Officials in an attempt to rescue it from an agrarian well in Anuradhapura. Locals claim that wildlife officials had not attempted to locate the elephant and treat it following the incident. Four days ago Wildlife Officers from the Galkiriyagama Wildlife Office had visited a remote area in Anuradhapura to rescue a wild elephant that had fallen into an agrarian well. After the pachyderm was rescued, the wildlife officers had hurled an explosive cracker to chase it back into the wild - sadly the wild animal had picked it up attempted to consume it, the explosive detonated causing serious injuries to the animal. Though the injured elephant had made its way into the Kahalla, Pallekele Forest Reserve, News 1st contacted the Ranger of Galkiriyagama D.Ramasinghe to find out if there was any inquiry carried out over the injured elephant. He stated that the elephant had been rescued by their personnel adding that it then ran off into the Kahalla Pallekele Forest Reserve. He added that no report has been filed of any incident involving explosive crackers or injuring the elephant. When he was told that there is video proof as to what happened he stated that they cannot be certain if it was the same elephant or some other one. He added that they have rescued many elephants including the very recent incident where they pulled out three elephants. The Ranger of Galkiriyagama said if it is the same elephant they must know because they rescued it. Even with proof in their sight the Ranger claims there is no such incident reported. If certain wildlife officers who are responsible for the protection of wildlife are not engaged in their duties in a proper manner, who else would be responsible for the security of the wild animals?