Special military team deployed to locate missing tusker Agbo

A special military team has been deployed to locate Agbo, one of Sri Lanka’s best-known wild tuskers, following discussions between the Minister of Environment and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.

According to an announcement, the Defence Secretary ordered the immediate deployment of the military team to accelerate efforts to trace the elephant and ensure his safety.

The decision was taken following discussions between the Environment Minister and the Defence Secretary on strengthening the ongoing search operation.

The operation is being conducted with the cooperation of relevant government institutions, with authorities seeking to establish Agbo’s current whereabouts and take necessary measures to protect him.

Agbo, a well-known wild tusker frequently seen in the Thirappane area of Anuradhapura, attracted nationwide attention in 2023 after suffering a serious gunshot injury to his left front leg.

The elephant was injured by a trap gun, leaving him struggling to walk and requiring extensive veterinary treatment over several months.

Wildlife veterinarians, including Dr. Tharaka Prasad and Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe, were involved in efforts to treat the elephant, while villagers and wildlife enthusiasts closely followed his recovery.

Despite the treatment, Agbo faced further threats when he was reportedly shot again in October 2023, raising concerns over the protection of wild elephants.

The tusker’s prolonged treatment and recovery became a widely followed wildlife conservation story in Sri Lanka, highlighting the dangers faced by wild elephants from illegal firearms and human-elephant conflict.

The latest search operation comes just days after the death of Kavantissa, another iconic Sri Lankan wild tusker, who died on October 16 after receiving treatment for a gunshot injury. (Newswire)

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