Mugalan was a young tusker, about 10–12 years old, who regularly visited Udawalawe National Park and was often driven back into the park by wildlife officers after straying near villages. In early December 2018 he was found dead near the Udawalawe tank on the park boundary, kneeling as if still alive, with gunshot wounds to the head. Police believe a villager shot him; the Department of Wildlife Conservation and police opened investigations.