The number of elephants found dead in Habarana following suspected poisoning has risen to seven, the Wildlife Department said.
The Army and Police were deployed to search the forest reserve in Hambarana after five elephants were found dead.
During the search operation the carcasses of two more elephants were found this afternoon.
The carcass of the fifth elephant was found in Habarana this morning.
An investigation had already been launched into the discovery of four wild elephants found dead in Habarana yesterday.
Wildlife officers said the elephants believed to have died under suspicious circumstances were found yesterday.
The carcasses were found near a tank bund in Hiriwadunna, Habarana and among them was a pregnant elephant.
The fifth elephant was found dead today and a search had been launched in the area fearing more elephants may have been poisoned.
(Colombo Gazette)