14 December 2020 05:45 pm
There is a threat of spreading a bacterial disease (Hemorrhagic septicemia) among wild animals in the Polonnaruwa Flood Plains National Park, the Wild Life Department said.
A senior official of the Department said the bacterial disease called 'Hemorrhagic septicemia' is spreading among the cattle.
This bacterial disease mainly affects the cattle and water buffaloes and is a major cause for livestock mortality in tropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The disease was identified by the Department of Animal Production & Health after tests conducted on the deceased cattles, he said.
"The owners of the deceased cattle complained about their animals' death caused by an unidentified disease. More than 20 heads of cattle have already died following the infection," he said.
People near the national park used to leave their cattle in the wildlife reservation for grazing which could pose a danger that the wild animals could become infected.
"In case if the wild animals get infected by the disease, it would be a very serious problem, because we cannot vaccinate the wild animals," he said.
This bacterial disease is spreading mainly due to the cattle were not vaccinated, the official added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)