51 elephants, 19 people died in Polonnaruwa this year

7 October 2018 02:06 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A total of 51 wild elephants and 19 people had died in the Polonnaruwa District due to the human-elephant conflict to date this year alone, Wildlife Conservation Department officers of the Polonnaruwa District said.

A senior Wildlife Conservator said the death toll of wild elephants had been increasing in alarming proportions due to human activities and that elephants were often shot dead or killed by traps, while others were knocked down by trains.

He said the elephants going in search of fodder or water had also been found bogged down in marshes or drowned in rivers and canals.

He said the villagers had also resorted to the merciless act of laying the locally made explosive device called Hakka Patas (Explosive-laden fruits which explode as the animal eat them).

The explosive goes off causing serious injuries to the animal’s mouth which results in the death of the animal after a long and immense suffering for days of thirst and starvation added to the pain of injuries.

He said that clearing of forests for development and haphazard expansion of human settlements were the major causes of the human-elephant conflict and that the environment and the wildlife were casualties of such development.(. K.G. Karunartne)

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Comments - 8

Olifant Sunday, 07 October 2018 02:52 PM

In the Germany, Canada and the Netherlands they makep wildlife crossings. We couldo make one or two more bridges at high activity areas for wildlife.

Appu Sunday, 07 October 2018 03:17 PM

Few more left in Diyawanna as well. Why not built a rail track that way too.

Lion Sunday, 07 October 2018 05:47 PM

What's our countries Pres., and PM doing are not they read these news. What is our minister in charge doing. Why are they not taking positive steps quickly. Are they waiting till all the elephants die thru train tragedy and booby traps.

Lawry Sunday, 07 October 2018 06:32 PM

This is the worst thing that can happen in a Buddhist country. It pains to read of the sufferings of these animals. This is not slaughter but murder for selfish gains. Who will protect these animals who will teach these humans to be humane?

Tembo Sunday, 07 October 2018 06:50 PM

Theoretically, a bad sign for the UNP!!!

Ghost Sunday, 07 October 2018 07:10 PM

Sri Lanka no country for elephants at least the four legged kind!

Dhammika Sunday, 07 October 2018 07:59 PM

Polonnaruwa seems to me has more Elephants than people looking at the casuality rate ! .

Jaliya Sunday, 07 October 2018 09:15 PM

Population of a country must be educated civilized and nobel minded in order to respect other human beings and animals. We have a society full of utterly selfish uncivilized vultures who would go to an extent to harm an elephant who is in search of water and food in a most brutal ways. A large animal will have a painful and slow death in a most atrocious way. The vultures who commit these crimes must be punished with similar methods until they are all gone.

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51 elephants, 19 people died in Polonnaruwa this year

Comments - 8

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