10 elephant calves brought up at the Udawalawe elephant orphanage were released to their homelands yesterday.

The elephant calves were brought to Udawalawe from Thanamalwila, Hambantota, Lunugam-wehera, Wakare, Sigiriya and Morawewa.

Accordingly the calves were released from Udawalawe yesterday.

Meanwhile, nearly 2000 residents of the Balaharuwa area in Moneragala staged a protest last night against the threat of wild elephants faced by them.

This was in the Uva – Kuda Oya area.