The injured female elephant named 'Seetha', who was involved in a shooting incident with a Wildlife officer, was transported to its owner's residence in Maharagama.
Prof. Ashoka Dangolla from Peradeniya University Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science Faculty provided details of the elephant's condition.
According to Prof. Dangolla, the elephant was taken to Maharagama three weeks after the incident due to swelling in its abdominal area caused by a lack of sleep for about two weeks. Concerned about the animal's ability to endure a long journey, the decision was made to take it to its owner's home.
The swollen abdominal area of the elephant is filled with water, which needs to be drained after it reaches Maharagama. The owner, S.M. Roshan, expressed his intention to seek justice for the animal and stated that he would approach the International Court of Justice if necessary.
The injured elephant underwent various scanning tests, including three thermal imaging scans, and had several rubber bullet fragments removed from its left leg. The shooting incident occurred on September 30 after the annual perahera procession of the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara.
