The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said that the tusker “Agbo”, who was shot for the second time recently, will take some time to recover since the bullets are yet to be found.

Agbo, who was receiving treatment after suffering gunshot injuries earlier this year (2023), was reportedly shot again last week (28 October). According to media reports, an individual is believed to have opened fire on the elephant from near the Vannam Maduwa River in Thirappane.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), DWC Director of Wildlife Health Dr. Tharaka Prasad said that veterinarians are still struggling to determine where the bullets have lodged, adding however that no step has been taken thus far to perform a scanning test. He said that instead, the veterinarians are conducting symptomatic treatments to ascertain the exact location of the bullets. “We have not identified whether the bullets have entered the abdomen of the tusker, but we are closely monitoring to determine whether there are any symptoms arising from the abdominal area,” he said.

Speaking further, he said that the department is concerned regarding the area where the tusker has been living and is to consult other relevant parties to determine whether the tusker should be relocated. He said that the relocation or any other similar decision would not completely address this problem and that therefore, measures have to be taken to secure these animals. “Everyone blames us, the DWC. But we are only a part of this exercise. Other stakeholders of this issue, especially the public, should be made aware of this since such cases are very sensitive issues. This time, it was not shot at by a hunter. ‘Agbo' was shot by a farmer. So, this case is very sensitive,” he said.

Agbo is widely recognised as one of the last remaining giant tuskers in the wilds of Sri Lanka. At nearly 40 years old and towering at a height of approximately 10 feet, he roams freely in his natural habitat. This incident follows Agbo’s recent brush with critical injuries, caused by a gunshot from a trap gun just a few months ago.