අග්බෝ ඇතා සෙවීම සඳහා විශේෂ හමුදා කණ්ඩායමක් පිටත් වේ – ආරක්ෂක අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම්ගෙන් නියෝගයක්

Reports on the 19th described a search for injured wild elephant Agbo in the Nachchaduwa area of Anuradhapura. The Daily Mirror reported that Agbo was found in the Ihattewa forest area with Army assistance. Other reports said the search was still under way, leaving his location unconfirmed by authorities in those accounts.

Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said 75 people were involved in the joint operation: 65 Army personnel and 10 Department of Wildlife Conservation officers. Newsfirst separately reported that a 30-member Army team had been sent to search in the Thirappane forest area, following directives from the Defence Ministry. Ada Derana also reported that a special Army team was dispatched on the Defence Ministry secretary’s instructions, after discussions involving the environment minister.

According to Patabendi, residents had reported seeing Agbo the previous afternoon, and other wild elephants had been seen in the search area. He said its size had made it difficult to confirm Agbo’s exact location. Drones were being used, and an Air Force surveillance drone was expected to be deployed. The minister said the joint search was intended to locate Agbo and provide urgent medical care; the Daily Mirror reported that operations would resume the next day.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said he had reliable information from wildlife sources that Agbo was safe and well. Newswire also reported that Premadasa said the elephant had been located and was safe, while the Daily Mirror’s account of an actual sighting said Agbo had been found in Ihattewa. The reports do not establish whether the official search had ended.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.