Three suspects have been arrested in Sri Lanka for injuring an elephant, causing outrage among animal rights advocates.

Three suspects, aged between 42 and 50, were arrested on Thursday in Sri Lanka for injuring a male elephant, which was found with severe burns and a gunshot wound to its leg. The elephant has been treated multiple times by veterinarians this year. The case has sparked harsh criticism from animal rights advocates and social media users, and a petition for punishing the offenders has gathered over 400 signatures. In Sri Lanka, elephants are considered sacred, being an integral part of religious ceremonies and tourist attractions. Killing an elephant can lead to the death penalty, according to the World Wildlife Fund. However, encounters between humans and elephants have led to nearly 400 elephant deaths this year, mostly caused by human actions, including shootings and train accidents. During the same period, over 100 people have been killed in elephant attacks.