Fifteen tortoises have been rescued from an abandoned well in the Kalu Eliya area of Ritigala and released into a nearby water source, wildlife officials said.
Residents living near a house in the area alerted the Ritigala Wildlife Office after discovering the tortoises trapped inside the abandoned well.
Wildlife officers subsequently reached the location and safely removed all 15 tortoises from the well.
The tortoises are believed to have fallen into the well while moving in search of water amid the prevailing dry weather conditions.
The rescued animals were later released in the Dematawewa area of Ritigala, where a water source is available, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Wildlife officials said the prevailing dry conditions have forced wild animals to move frequently in search of water, exposing them to natural hazards as well as threats caused by human activities, including snares and traps set by poachers. (Newswire)