Court orders wild life to relocate 'Agbo' elephant

The Chief Magistrate of Anuradhapura ordered the Assistant Director of Wildlife Conservation in Anuradhapura to capture and relocate the wild elephant known as Agbo, which has been frequenting the Thirappane area for over a year, to a forest reserve.

Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya issued this order following a report submitted by CI Ranjith Kumarasinghe of Thirappane Police, acting on instructions from DIG Priyantha Weerasuriya. 

The case was brought against an employee of a private TV channel who used a drone camera to photograph the tusker.

During the hearing, police informed the court that the tusker, which should be protected, had been exposed to potential harm by being left at the mercy of people. They expressed concerns that allowing it to roam into villages could lead to crop damage and pose risks to human lives and property. The police requested the Wildlife Conservation Department to relocate the elephant to a forest reserve to ensure its safety and prevent potential danger.

The Judge directed the police to press charges against the suspect who used the drone camera to photograph the tusker.