A well-known wild tusker named Kawanthissa has died while undergoing medical treatment for severe gunshot wounds, the Ministry of Environment announced.
Veterinary teams from the Department of Wildlife Conservation had been administering intensive medical care to the injured elephant after he was located with deep tissue wounds. Despite continuous efforts by wildlife officers to treat the infections, the tusker’s condition deteriorated rapidly before he succumbed to his injuries.
Roaming primarily across the Galgamuwa, Meegalewa, and Kala Oya ecosystems, Kawanthissa was widely considered Sri Lanka’s tallest wild tusker. He gained prominent public attention following the death of the iconic Siyambalangamuwa tusker in 2012. Despite his impressive stature and massive ivory, Kawanthissa was known among local communities and wildlife enthusiasts for his exceptionally calm nature and non-aggressive demeanor.
