Animal killing on the rise: Authorities go after poachers

6 September 2025 10:02 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

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Colombo, Sept. 6 (Daily Mirror) - In light of the increased illegal hunting activity resulting in the deaths of wildlife, authorities have stepped up efforts to apprehend poachers operating in wildlife reserves.

A senior official at the Department of Wildlife Conservation told Daily Mirror that the department has scaled up the measures to crack down on poachers.

“We have identified the areas where poaching is most prevalent. As such, the patrol measures have been intensified,” the official stated.

“People can also contribute to the endeavour by informing the authorities via 1992 about the poachers,” the official added.

According to official data, elephant and leopard deaths in Sri Lanka are climbing at an alarming rate, with new figures showing dozens killed in just the first eight months of this year.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation says 268 elephant deaths have been reported in 2025.

Of the deaths, 47 elephants were killed by gunfire, 40 electrocuted and 13 killed by trains, 26 from explosives concealed in food items known as 'hakka patas’.

A total of 248 elephants died in 2024 from various causes.

Meanwhile, a total of 13 leopards have so far been killed in 2025.

The majority of deaths are caused by leopards being trapped in snares or falling victim to ‘hakka patas’.

Comments - 4

Umar Perera Saturday, 06 September 2025 11:08 AM

This Govt is working at cross purposes. First it gave open licence to anyone (under the guise of farmers protecting crops) to use any means (no matter how cruel) to kill wild animals approaching. Now it recognises that our wild elephants and leopards and others are dying more and more so they plan to go after so-called poachers. Why not reverse/cancel the first proclamation? Make it a criminal offence with long jail time to injure or kill these wild animals. Very confusing policy. Either way, we are going to lose wildlife unless a clear policy of Protection is implemented immediately.

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hal Saturday, 06 September 2025 01:01 PM

the government only gave allowed the use of air rifles.

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SLPP and UNP previous government was for killing Saturday, 06 September 2025 01:43 PM

The previous Agriculture minister was for killing of any and all animals for the sake of agriculture, and gave out many guns. Soon the crime everywhere goes up, as wicked people start killing animals for profit, and the killing mentality started by the previous UNP SLPP is taking root. Ranil and Rajapaksa family is to blame.

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RP Sunday, 07 September 2025 12:08 AM

Two factors playing a role. Visa free may have increased foreign Poachers to arrive and also, made the situations worse by appointing incompetent ministers in the Environment and Wildlife sector. These ministers instead of protecting the Wildlife, harassing and threatning the Wildlife protecting officers. Our country has genuine experts in pretty much in every field, but the Government is not heeding their advise? AKD is from Tambuttegama, off Wilpattu and with plenty of Elephant corridors. Yet, he has shown no interest in solving long term solution to the Human-Elephant conflict? He is the only person capable of stopping the poor and hapless Wildlife!

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