Environmental Groups Protest Over Treatment of Tusker Kawanthissa

A group of environmental organisations staged a peaceful protest today outside the Department of Wildlife Conservation, raising concerns over the treatment provided to tusker Kawanthissa.

The environmental groups called for proper medical treatment to be provided to the elephant, expressing concern over what they said was a delay of several days in providing treatment for an injury believed to have been caused by a gunshot.

Dr. Ajanta Perera and representatives of several environmental organisations participated in the protest.

A tense situation was also reported outside the Department of Wildlife Conservation during the demonstration.

Meanwhile, recent reports from wildlife authorities state that Kawanthissa has an injury to the upper part of its right foreleg and that treatment began on September 24. Veterinary surgeons who examined the elephant on September 25 reportedly found no visible gunshot wounds on its body.