July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Chief Magistrate of Anuradhapura has directed the Assistant Director of Wildlife Conservation to capture and relocate the wild elephant known as Agbo, who has been wandering in the Thirappane area for over a year, to a forest reserve.
This decision by Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya followed a report by OIC Thirappane police CI Ranjith Kumarasinghe, based on instructions from DIG Priyantha Weerasuriya.
The report was presented during a hearing involving a private TV channel employee accused of using a drone to photograph the elephant.
The police informed the court that Agbo, who requires protection, faces significant risk if allowed to continue roaming through villages, potentially causing damage to crops and property.
The police requested the court to instruct the Wildlife Conservation Department to move the elephant to a forest reserve to ensure its safety and that of the local residents.
The judge also ordered the police to press charges against the individual who used a drone camera to photograph Agbo.
