Army Deploys 30-Member Team To Locate Tusker 'Agbo'

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Defence says a team comprising of 30 members from the Sri Lanka Army has launched an operation to locate the Tusker 'Agbo' in Thirappane, a forested area in Anuradhapura.

The special Army team was deployed on the directives of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha.

The deployment follows a request made by the Minister of Environment.

Wildlife officers will participate in the search operation as well.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Secretary had instructed the immediate deployment of the team of Army officers to locate Tusker 'Agbo' as soon as possible and ensure it's safety.

Meanwhile, soldiers, including Major General Kaminda Silva, Brigadier Basnayake and Major Silva, conducted search operations yesterday along the southern bank of the canal that carries water from Ehawewa to Mahakanadarawa.

According to The Ministry of Environment a Tusker resembling 'Agbo' and a herd of elephants had been spotted in the area.

However, as wildlife officers and Army personnel approached the herd, they had moved into a densely forested area.

In a separate search operation, information emerged that a farmer in the Thodamaduwa area had seen the Tusker 'Agbo'.

According to him, the Tusker had passed by his hut and moved towards the Nachchaduwa Tank.