Police have arrested a man suspected of shooting iconic Sri Lankan tusker Kavantissa, who died on October 16 after receiving weeks of veterinary treatment for a gunshot injury.
According to police, the suspect was arrested during a joint operation conducted by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit and the Department of Wildlife Conservation in the Galgamuwa area.
Two firearms were also recovered during the operation, police said.
Kavantissa, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic wild tuskers, died after battling serious health complications following a gunshot injury to his right front leg.
Wildlife veterinarians had been treating the elephant since September 24, with several teams deployed in efforts to save his life.
His death sparked widespread public concern and renewed calls for stronger measures to protect Sri Lanka’s wild elephants.
Environmentalists and wildlife conservation groups had also demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the tusker’s subsequent death.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into the shooting of Kavantissa.
Further investigations are underway to establish the circumstances of the shooting and determine whether the recovered firearms were used in the incident. (Newswire)