Sri Lankans have been jolted this month by the prolonged and agonising death of Bhathiya, an iconic elephant. The magnificent wild tusker’s suffering was unbearable; it had been shot at repeatedly and, limping badly, it fell into an agricultural well where it struggled to die. Even in death, dignity was denied by futile medical meddling because of a legal inability to administer euthanasia and attention seeking politicians found a helpless victim as the press and ghoulish observers crowded in. Undoubtably, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), had failed to conserve this beautiful, wild life but critically injured it was beyond medical help. However, first, why was this elephant shot at by farmers and why was an unprotected agricultural well in its home range.

To read the full story visit https://news.mongabay.com/2025/07/sri-lanka-tusker-death-sparks-euthanasia-debate-calls-for-conservation-solutions/

Photo credit: Dinuka Lakmal