As wild animals proliferate; damages to crops also increase: Ministry

A report submitted by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute showed that the wild animal population in the country had increased in an unsustainable manner compared to the existing forest density, the Agriculture Ministry said.

The report was submitted to Minister Mahinda Amaraweera as a result of a discussion held with the participation of university professors, members of animal rights organizations, and other personnel regarding the measures to be taken to reduce the damage caused by wild animals to crops.

Due to the increase in the wild animal population, the amount of damage caused to crops by them is also increasing, according to the report.

The report identifies five animals that damage crops. In terms of the damage caused, toque monkeys, peacocks, giant squirrels, monkeys and wild boars are the main ones.

The toque monkeys cause the most serious damage in the coconut triangle-the area in the country which is known for its coconut plantations.

In the first six months of the year 2022, the number of coconuts destroyed by the toque monkeys and giant squirrels was 92 million. By the end of the year, that amount had exceeded 200 million.

The Ministry had taken steps to remove those animals from the list of protected animals.

However, the expert committee had mentioned that the following solutions should be implemented in the short term for the management of agriculture-wildlife conflicts. It has been proposed to submit necessary amendments to the Wildlife and Vegetation Act. 

* Making necessary amendments to the Wildlife and Flora and Fauna Protection Act

* The temporary removal of animals that have become pests and are causing serious damage to agriculture from the list of animals to be preserved in the Act

* Updating the legal provisions necessary for the use of pellet guns.

* Relaxation of legal restrictions on the sale and consumption of animal meat in selected areas where pest infestation is high, with the knowledge and support of the Ministry of Health.

Apart from this, the expert committee has recommended other proposals to be implemented in the long-term, medium-term, and short-term. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)