DeceasedWild Tuskerc. 1980 – 2019 (Aged approx. 39)

Unicorn of Minneriya (Ekadanta)

මින්නේරියේ යුනිකෝන්
Unicorn of Minneriya (Ekadanta)
The single-tusked bull Unicorn surveying the open bed of Minneriya reservoirCredit: Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 2.5 (Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.5)

Archival Field Dossier

Roaming TerritoryMinneriya National Park & Moragaswewa, North Central Province
Habitat SanctuaryMinneriya tank catchment and Kaudulla wildlife corridor
Geographic Coordinates8.0333 N, 80.9 E
Physical Anatomy & TusksSingle massive, sharp, upward-curving left tusk, dominant matriarchal escort, towering back ridge
Fate and Cause of DeathSuccumbed to severe gunshot wounds sustained outside the protected park boundary in 2019.

Significance and Cultural Legacy

The iconic single-tusked dominant bull (Ekadanta) of the great Minneriya Gathering. Recognized immediately by wildlife enthusiasts across the world for his solitary, razor-sharp ivory tusk and undisputed leadership around the Minneriya tank.

"Sri Lankan tuskers represent an ancient biological and cultural heritage. Only a rare percentage of Sri Lankan Asian elephant bulls develop majestic ivory tusks, making each individual a living national treasure."
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