Elephant herds grieve fallen elephant killed by tusker

One of the largest elephants in Kala Wewa National Park, also the leader of a herd, has been killed after being attacked by a tusker.

Camera footage had caught nearly 300 elephants were seen paying their last respect to the leader yesterday (16).

The deceased elephant had reportedly engaged in a conflict with a tusker roaming around Kala Wewa, for several days, according to the Wildlife Officers.

After being critically attacked by the tusker, the leader of the herd had died yesterday.

Nearly two herds of elephants, including elephant calves, had arrived at the location, to grieve the dead herd leader.

Wildlife Officers stated that the elephants of a herd take protective measures to protect their leader when they sense an imminent danger, and such incidents are a rare sight to be witnessed.

The tusker which killed the leader of the elephant herd had returned to attack the deceased elephant once the rest of the elephants had left the area, said Wildlife Officers.

Meanwhile, an elephant calf, believed to be nearly 5-years-old, has died after consuming Hakka Patas (a crude home-made explosive used for killing wild elephants) near Yan Oya in Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura.