Police in Sri Lanka have arrested three men for allegedly setting a wild elephant on fire with flaming torches in an attempt to chase it from a village in the country’s north.
The male elephant, which also suffered a gunshot wound to its leg, succumbed to its severe burns on Tuesday despite veterinary treatment.
A video of the brutal incident circulated widely on social media this week, triggering fierce public backlash. The suspects, aged between 42 and 50, were taken into custody on Thursday.
The case has ignited outrage among animal rights advocates, with a petition demanding prosecution and stronger prevention measures gathering hundreds of signatures within a day.
The incident highlights the deadly consequences of escalating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, where elephants are considered sacred.
An official told the Daily Mirror that nearly 400 elephants have died this year, many from human causes including shootings, train accidents, and “jaw bombs”—explosive bait used to protect crops. In the same period, elephant attacks have killed more than 100 people.
Killing an elephant is a serious offence in Sri Lanka and can carry the death penalty. The arrested men now face potential prosecution under these stringent laws, as public pressure mounts for justice in a case that has shocked the nation.
By James Kisoo
