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Over 1,200 elephants killed in the last five years
By Poojathmi Rivithma
Colombo, March 14 (Daily Mirror) - Over the past five years, 1,238 elephants have tragically lost their lives due to various causes, with 138 deaths resulting from train accidents alone.
These fatalities have raised serious concerns about the safety of wildlife and the urgent need for effective measures to prevent such tragedies.
V.S. Polwattage, the Deputy Project Director of Railway Operations, highlighted that train accidents have been a major contributor to the loss of elephant life. To address this, the Railway Department has cleared tracks in areas where elephants are commonly found and has implemented measures that allow train drivers to stop if an elephant is spotted on the tracks. Additionally, electric fences have been installed along both sides of the railway track and in nearby reserves, creating a corridor to help protect the animals.
Meanwhile, Manjula Amaratna, the Director of Wildlife Health, expressed concerns about the increasing number of jeeps entering Yala National Park. While around 300 jeeps used to enter daily, the number has now nearly doubled, reaching 500. Amaratna also warned that feeding elephants is harmful, as it encourages them to venture onto roads in search of food. This behavior can lead to further incidents, as elephants may cause damage once they become accustomed to human-provided food.
Amaratna urged the public to refrain from feeding wild animals to help prevent such tragedies and preserve the safety of both wildlife and humans.
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