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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Strife Blamed For Orphaned Elephants

Associated Press

Government soldiers have found three baby elephants orphaned in the jungles of war-torn northern Sri Lanka, apparent victims of the fighting, an official said Saturday.

The elephants, which were found over the last six weeks, are less than 6 months old, said Nandana Atapattu, a deputy director of the Wildlife Conservation Department.

Soldiers also found an elephant that died after stepping on a land mine in the war zone, Atapattu said. Electric wires also kill elephants.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature estimates that between 2,500 and 3,000 elephants roam the jungles of this Indian Ocean island nation.