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5879 elephants in SL

2 September 2011 11:44 am - 14     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The results of the recent island wide elephant census revealed that there are 5879 elephants in the country which is the highest density of wild elephants in the Asian continent, Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S. M Chandrasena said today.

According to the census there are 1107 baby elephants and 122 are tuskers. The island wide elephant survey was conducted dividing the country into seven parts, Wildlife Department Director General H. D. Ratnayake said. The statistics showed that the highest number of elephants are concentrated in the Mahaweli region where 1751 elephants were recorded. The lowest number of elephants is in the Central region where 47 elephants were found. There are 1573 elephants in the Eastern region, 1189 in the North Eastern region and 1086 in the Southern region.  

The Minister said the large number of baby elephants was a further sign of an increasing elephant population in the country. Ratnayake said the census was to find remedies to stop the human-elephant conflict, to ensure their protection and to seek new methods to manage them.

The census was conducted in 1553 observation points with the participation of 3500 officers from the Wildlife Department, Army and residents in the areas where the census was conducted and other participants. The islandwide elephant census was conducted from August 11 to 14. The last elephant census was in 1993 which did not cover the North and Eastern provinces.

He said although environmental groups have stated that the purpose of the elephant census was to hand-pick some 300 elephants for domestication and that they would be sold to temples, the minister said that would not be permitted.” We will only permit lone elephants that are found stranded or selected elephants in the Pinnawala orphanage to be given to temples. No other elephants will be allowed to be domesticated,” he said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

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  Comments - 14

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  • sagarika Friday, 02 September 2011 11:58 AM

    do we have access to these field records?

    Gayan Samarasekara Friday, 02 September 2011 12:33 PM

    but how many in the working committee?

    UNP Friday, 02 September 2011 04:30 PM

    In the jungle or the parliment?

    modawansa Friday, 02 September 2011 04:30 PM

    How did they count it get that exact figures?

    freehit Friday, 02 September 2011 05:25 PM

    Highest density? Yet they lose elections !

    Jayantha de Alwis Saturday, 03 September 2011 12:03 AM

    Do not forget that this man S. M Chandrasena is the person who cheated compensation given to Maviaru farmers. We need to keep our eyes wide open, in order to protect the elephants.

    Manujer Saturday, 03 September 2011 05:22 AM

    All the rogue wild elephants must be tamed rather than being killed, about 250, annually. Who talks about this tragedy ?

    Mike Saturday, 03 September 2011 05:59 AM

    Is this including all two legged "Alli" too

    eresh S kumara Saturday, 03 September 2011 11:09 AM

    122 Tuskers is very important

    namal Saturday, 03 September 2011 11:47 AM

    Forest cover and wild life should be protected at any cost. They are not this marumus Minister's or Others private property.
    already there is a d rout because of the way they kill elephants and grab their habitat.
    more will follow unless President come to his senses now. and implement law & order in those areas.

    nawala nihal Saturday, 03 September 2011 05:59 PM

    only 122 tuskers...? no wonder thinking the number of tuskers killing to full fill politicians wows...

    faqi Saturday, 03 September 2011 08:16 PM

    The problem in Sri Lanka are not the elephants but the humans who have encroached into the elephants environment. Elephants lack the necessary space, as all the jungles are being encroached upon by humans. The elephants only have the protected reserves and hardly any corridors for them to roam about from one area to another, without coming into deadly contact with humans.

    Nagaragiri Kiththil Sunday, 04 September 2011 07:03 AM

    You are wrong, now its one less ,Molligoda crossed over and he is not an elephant.

    Patriot Monday, 05 September 2011 04:29 AM

    Wild elephants should be allowed to roam in the wilderness Manujer not tamed... Humans should stop eating into elephant habitat...


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