* Sri Lankan magistrate surrenders illegally kept wild elephant

Additional Magistrate of Colombo Thilina Gamage, who has allegedly kept a wild elephant cub in illegal captivity violating wildlife ordnance, handed over the elephant calf to the Wildlife Department office of Battaramulla yesterday.

Director General of Wildlife H.D. Rathnayaka said that the magistrate had no legal permit to keep the elephant.

A number of persons who kept captured wild elephants in their possession illegally with the support of politicians have been identified. However, legal action against these wildlife criminals is delaying.

The registry of wild elephants maintained by Wildlife Department was stolen recently to cover up the crimes.

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