Lanka jumbos face threat, 145 were slaughtered in past year

Lanka jumbos face threat, 145 were slaughtered in past year
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

COLOMBO, JAN 10: Atleast 145 wild elephants have been slaughtered in Sri Lanka last year in an escalating conflict between humans and elephants, a leading wildlife official said here today.

Less than four elephants died of natural causes last year, underscoring the battle over crops, land and water, said wildlife conservation department director A.P.A Gunasekera.

‘‘It is the man who has declared this war,’’ Gunasekera said adding that about 1,400 elephants have been killed in the past 11 years out of an estimated total population of 3,000 to 3,500 animals living in the wild.

During the corresponding period, some 350 people were rushed to death by marauding elephants, Gunasekera said. He said organised and ad hoc expansions of agricultural land and village settlements had contributed to a reduction in the traditional habitats of elephants, leading to the bitter battle.

The wildlife conservation department has just finalise a comprehensive plan to minimise the human-elephant conflict, setting aside areas to be left alone for wild animals, he said.

‘‘We believe this is a winnable war,’’ Gunasekera said. ‘‘If we have all the money we need to implement our plans, we are hopeful that we can ensure that no elephants are killed in three years.’’

Mapping of conflict areas would be completed by April.

He said they will be forced to dismantle several villages recently set up in the middle of ‘‘elephant corridors’’ used when the animals migrate from one region to the other in search of food and water.

A sugar plantation company in the south of the island has agreed to free 2,500 hectares of land obtained earlier from within an elephant corridor, Gunasekera said.

Brutal attacks on elephants have been taking place despite the animal’s listing as a protected species in Sri Lanka, in addition to being held in high esteem by the majority Buddhist community.

Wild elephants in the island’s north-east are also getting caught in the cross fire between Government troops and Tamil Tiger guerrilla.

Fears of rebel attacks are also preventing vets from treating wounded elephants in the combat zones.