Following postmortem examinations, authorities said that seven wild elephants found dead in the Handapanwila area in the Polonnaruwa wildlife reserve had died by drowning.
The carcasses of the seven elephants were found scattered across the Handapanwila, Villuwa area on Sunday. The postmortem examinations were conducted yesterday by Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Kaluarachchi.
Among the dead elephants are two elephants between 15 and 25 years of age, four elephants who are about four years old and one elephant who is about one year old, a Wildlife official said.
Wildlife officials suspect that a herd of wild elephants encountered treacherous conditions while attempting to cross the Ode Ela, a waterway in the area.