Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- A wild elephant, aged about 12 years, that fell into the Welikanda ZD canal has died by drowning after getting trapped in a sluice gate in Maithreegama, the Welikanda Wildlife Office said.

Wildlife officials suspect that this wild elephant fell into the canal when it arrived at the ZD canal during the early hours of the day yesterday (16) to drink water.

It is reported that the wild elephant is about 7 feet and 4 inches in height.

Officials believe that the elephant could have drifted along the canal towards a sluice gate supplying water to the Karashan Tank in the Maithreegama area, and died by drowning, getting trapped there.

Villagers who went to check on a sudden decrease in the water level of the canal relea...