Shooting perahera elephant

A wildlife officer was taken in for questioning after he allegedly shot a perehera elephant following a mistaken identity, police said yesterday.

The injured elephant is currently undergoing medical treatment by a veterinary surgeon of the Wildlife Department, police said.

Initial investigations have revealed that the Wild Life officer had mistaken the elephant as a wild jumbo and opened fire, according to the police.

The injured elephant was a part of a parade at the annual Esala Perahera of Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Vihara. The cow elephant was tethered to chains on the banks of the Mahaweli River when the incident occurred during the wee hours, police said.