Unicorn T039: Last Journey of a giant who belonged to dry zone
By Ifham Nizam For nearly three decades, he walked the ancient elephant trails of the Dry Zone, moving quietly between forests, tanks and villages, and becoming one of the most recognisable faces of the Minneriya–Kaudulla wilderness. He was known as Unicorn T039, a magnificent, fully grown bull elephant distinguished by a single tusk that gave […]
The final journey of Unicorn, a renowned elephant with a single tusk, came to a tragic end in the Katukeliyawa Reserve, close to Minneriya. Renowned as one of the most recognizable faces of the Minneriya–Kaudulla wilderness, Unicorn was a fully grown bull elephant standing close to 10 feet tall, characterized by his powerful physique and the mythical single tusk.
Estimated to have been between 40 and 45 years old, Unicorn had become an integral part of the landscape, the annual Elephant Gathering, and the country's wildlife tourism identity.
His death is not merely the loss of another elephant in Sri Lanka's human-elephant conflict, but the disappearance of an individual that had become synonymous with the wilderness. Every year, during July, August, and September, the Minneriya–Kaudulla landscape hosts the Elephant Gathering, a phenomenon drawing visitors from around the world.
Unicorn was one of its most distinctive characters, yet his world extended beyond park boundaries, encompassing regions southwards from Minneriya to Sigiriya, Katukeliyawa, Diyabeduma, Giritale, and Angammadilla, and northwards through the Rathmale area towards Kaudulla.
Chandika Lakmal, Secretary of Wild Tuskers Sri Lanka, emphasized that Unicorn's movements underscore the urgent need to consider elephant ranges beyond national park boundaries in conservation planning. Locals and tourists alike revered Unicorn, not just for his presence during the Gathering but also for the economic contribution his presence facilitated to Sri Lanka's wildlife tourism industry.
However, his final journey ended in a gunshot wound to the head, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death and the involvement of a trap gun.
The tragedy of Unicorn's death is not only a personal loss but also a reflection of broader issues. His life exemplifies how elephants have been pushed into fragmented landscapes due to development activities, leading to increased human-elephant conflict. This conflict, often fueled by political rhetoric, poor planning, and misinformation, highlights the need for comprehensive solutions that address both individual cases and the systemic problems.
Unicorn's story serves as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between humans and wildlife in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
