Sri Lankan authorities have begun an investigation after seven elephants were found dead last week from suspected poisoning. Four bodies were discovered on Friday and another three on Saturday in Habarana Forest Reserve.

Authorities said all of those found were females from the same herd, and one had been pregnant at the time. Wildlife and security officials are continuing to search the area for signs of any more dead elephants.

Preliminary post-mortem examinations began over the weekend. While it is not yet clear what caused their deaths, officials suspect they may have been poisoned by angry villagers for destroying crops. On Monday, another elephant was found shot dead in Sri Lanka’s central reserve, though it is unclear if the deaths are related.

Killing wild elephants is illegal in the country, though elephant populations frequently come into conflict with rural communities. The expansion of villages and farms has contributed to a loss of habitat and supplies of food and water for the animals.(BBC)…[+]