Residents in Galgamuwa, a village located in Sri Lanka’s North Western Province, are mourning the loss of a well-known wild bull elephant, known as Kavantissa. This area has faced significant human-elephant conflicts, but many locals had a special fondness for Kavantissa. The elephant was named after a ruler from the ancient Kingdom of Ruhuna, who lived in the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C.E., and was recognized for its calm demeanor. According to residents, Kavantissa never harmed a human throughout its life.
Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Jayathilaka Bandara, a local resident and animal enthusiast, along with another villager named Kumara, worked hard to protect Kavantissa and the group of elephants that gained attention for crossing railway tracks in Kasikote, a town situated between Galgamuwa and Ambanpola. This spot became popular among elephant watchers, with Kavantissa often crossing last in the herd. Bandara mentioned to Mongabay that Kavantissa’s passing is a great loss because of its gentle nature. He recounted how Kavantissa would wait for the rest of the herd to cross the tracks before making its entrance. He also observed that sometimes Kavantissa would pause before crossing the road and head toward the nearby Palukadawala tank, noting that this might have been a way of acknowledging him and Kumara.
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Dilrukshi Handunnetti