Seven elephants have been found dead since Friday in Sri Lanka. The animals were probably poisoned by villagers, exasperated by fatal accidents and the destruction of crops caused by pachyderms, according to police.
Three dead elephants were discovered on Saturday in a forest reserve near the site of Sigiriya, a 5th century fortress listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. By Friday, the remains of four other animals, including a pregnant female, had been found.
Many incidents in the countryside
Veterinarians and wildlife specialists will perform autopsies to confirm whether or not the pachyderms have been poisoned. In rural areas, elephants kill about 50 people a year, including breaking into villages. According to the police, the number of such incidents is increasing.
In addition, the passage of elephants through fields and growing areas destroys villagers’ crops, provoking their anger. Killing elephants can theoretically be punishable by death in Sri Lanka. The elephant population in the country, estimated at 12,000 animals at the beginning of the 20th century, now has only 7,000 individuals.
