Legal action against leopard killers: Wildlife Dept.

22 June 2018 04:45 pm - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While stating that the incident where irate villagers of Ambalakulam in Kilinochchi had killed a prowling leopard was a criminal act, the Wildlife Conservation Department today said it had taken legal action against the people involved in the incident under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance in the Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court.

Department’s Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara told the Daily Mirror that they had provided the Courts with images and videos circulating in the social media with regard to the incident in order to identify and arrest the suspects involved in the incident.

“Killing of this leopard is a criminal act. Accordingly, legal action is taken to arrest the suspects. The Police and the department are carrying out two separate investigations,” he said.

He said it was reported that the villagers had obstructed the activities of the Wildlife Officers, who had gone to catch the leopard.

He also said the people should react to such incidents in a more sensible manner and added that the wisest decision was to keep oneself away from such incidents and to inform and let the lawful authorities to deal with the matter.

Meanwhile, Wildlife Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma said the Wildlife Ministry had ordered the Police to take legal action and the Ministry to conduct an impartial inquiry on the incident.

Deputy Minister Thewarapperuma told the Daily Mirror that Wildlife Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had made this direction on Thursday, soon after this incident had taken place.

He also said the reason behind this unfortunate incident was some authorities fault in handling wildlife issues and it was not a fault of the leopard.

“The leopard has frequented the area to snatch cattle and goats had pounced on villagers. The villagers have informed the wildlife officials of the area of this incident around 7.30 am on Thursday. However, the wildlife officers have arrived the scene around 11.30 am. By that time, the villagers have caught the leopard and killed it,” he said.

He said it was necessary to find out the reason for the wildlife officers of this area to arrive the scene few hours late.

“People who have committed wrong should be punished. This innocent leopard is not at fault. It is questionable as to why these people are so happy after killing this animal. They are even taking selfie with it. Perhaps, they do not know the consequences of killing an animal in such a brutal manner. May be they were too depressed with the attacks of this leopard for the past few days. Those people cannot even do their daily activities due to this leopard’s attacks,” he said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)

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Comments - 20

kumar Friday, 22 June 2018 08:03 PM

It is the responsibility of the Government and the wild life dept. to prevent them coming into human settlement. People have a right to life. It is the wild life Department who should be prosecuted for obvious failure of their duty and the Dept. is trying to justify its actions by prosecuting the affected parties who should first be compensated by the Govt. Disgusting attitude.

S B Lokuge Saturday, 23 June 2018 05:23 AM

It is the responsibility of the government to portect humans, but not the humans who behave like wild animals.

Sanjayan Saturday, 23 June 2018 08:46 AM

Straight to the point. Those affected people were suffering in-front of the police, now everything turned with a racial base.

bombastic Friday, 22 June 2018 08:32 PM

There is a theory that the South Asian man's sexual identity is very repressed. Which is possibly why these men seem so happy after killing the leopard as they think it is a heroic and masculine act that promotes their identity as 'men'. All it is is cowardice.

S.P.RAMKUMAR Friday, 22 June 2018 09:03 PM

This the ball theory, man who does not have balls only follow this nasty theory.

Kottiya Friday, 22 June 2018 09:17 PM

Chinese connection ?

Commonsence Saturday, 23 June 2018 01:56 AM

Legal action against this animal killers? Nonsense. Take legal action against human killers. SL has gone mad.

Anamika Saturday, 23 June 2018 02:00 AM

It is pathetic and disheartening that such a majestic animal has to die in such a brutal way. Why? It is deplorable that the media even was showing such graphical images. This is a Buddhist country, what happens to all the teachings and the morals? Where are the authorities/department always arriving once the action has been taken?

Rantnadeepa Saturday, 23 June 2018 02:40 AM

Saw the video of this beast getting getting killed.. :( what a shame.. maximum sentence SHOULD be given to everyone who involved in this including the government officials (so called police (paga pappala)), we cannot tolerate these.... It was a gift of our mother land Sri Lanka :( .... BRING THOSE TO JUSTICE!!!

Mohamed Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:41 AM

It's sad to see people still do not understand the difference between the human and the animal - They are taking revenge from a animal who lives by instinct -

Madawa Saturday, 23 June 2018 08:17 AM

People who can not protect the animals asking for authority to have a responsibility of protecting humans / natinol security . Joke of the century!!!!!!

arjayewardene Saturday, 23 June 2018 09:32 AM

I am not supporting this heinous crime but..is it the fault of villagers or Wild Life Officials? The leopard was seen outside a school. The Wild Life took 4 hrs to arrive at the scene. By then, the villagers had taken action or the school children's lives were at stake.

Man Saturday, 23 June 2018 09:56 AM

The leopard had been sedated by the officers. Otherwise, how can those vultures reach that animal as it had been very hostile. The people in the photograph with the carcass must be arrested for chasing away the officers, too.

Rathnasena Saturday, 23 June 2018 02:54 PM

The leopard was killed just before the eyes of so called WILDLIFE officers.!!!

JIM Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:14 PM

Wildlife at its best.

muti Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:31 PM

they have no problem killing a rare endangered Leopard , but don’t kill the cows its sacred, hooligans

Martin Milton Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:45 PM

Shame on the Wildlife protection Minister who has taken a rather 'nonchalant' attitude towards this brutal criminal act. Shame! Shame! and THRICE Shame! MM

Jamalji Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:56 PM

First take legal action on officials who had not taken any action to protect public.

S.P.RAMKUMAR Saturday, 23 June 2018 05:34 PM

THIS LEOPARD HAD CAME IN THE VILLAGE 6.30 AM, BUT IT WAS KILLED 1230 NOON, WHY DID NOT WILDLIFE OFFICERS DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO SEND OUT THIS TO FOREST, HON. MINISTER SARATH FONSEKA HAVE TO APPOINT SENIOR WILD LIFE OFFICERS IN THIS AREA, PEOPLE NOW CLEARED FOREST AND LIVING THERE BECAUSE OF THAT ANIMAL ARE COMMING IN PEOPLE'S AREA

Roy Saturday, 23 June 2018 08:42 PM

A very disturbing video on this brutsl killing. I giess a few questions to be asked before jumping to conclusions.Did the animal attack any humans before being sorrounded by the villages? If it attacked thenpeopke after being sourrounded then it is natiral instinct of the aninal.Was the snimal sedated by the wildlife officers and then attacked by the people? I cant imagine these heros going close to the leopard to tey to kill it otherwise.If the wildlife sedated the animal why did they keave without taking the animal?Why did the police who were present control the situation if the wildlife officers were obstructed from carrying out theire duty?Last but not the least who encroached whose land? Dod the people clear the jungle and take over the leopards natural habitat?

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Legal action against leopard killers: Wildlife Dept.

Comments - 20

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