Sankharaja elephant tranquilised and captured

The elephant 'Sankharaja' belonging to the Embilipitiya Sankhapala Rajamaha Viharaya, which went berserk and trampled its mahout and assistant mahout to death at the Rakwana Sri Ubhayathilakarama Viharaya, was tranquilised and captured by wildlife officers this afternoon (22).

Wildlife officers and police safely captured the animal following a special joint operation to bring it under control after it fled and stayed in a paddy field near the temple, after the attack.

The elephant, brought for the 78th Poson procession of the Rakwana Sri Ubhayathilakarama Viharaya, suddenly went berserk and launched the attack when the mahout assistant was taking him to get water from the Rakwana river this morning (22).

Wildlife officers made an extensive effort to tranquilise and safely capture the elephant.

The elephant fled to a paddy field near the Rakwana Sri Ubhayathilakarama Viharaya after attacking the duo, prompting a team of wildlife officers to deploy to the location to bring the animal under control.

The elephant arrived on Saturday for the 78th Poson procession of the temple.

The sudden attack occurred this morning when the assistant mahout took the elephant to the Rakwana river for water, where it turned violent and trampled him. The mahout rushed to the scene upon hearing screams but suffered a fatal assault as well.

Both individuals, identified as mahout Sunil Shantha and assistant Praveen Madushan, died at the scene.