Govt. spends Rs.2,800 mn annually on elephant repellents

28 September 2022 11:43 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Wildlife Department has to spend Rs. 2,800 million annually to provide free repellents (crackers) to repel wild elephants to safeguard the villages in the vulnerable areas when the beasts invade the farmlands and villages.

The details were revealed by the Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera following a discussion held with the officials of the Ministry when inquired about the allegations made by the people that they do not receive proper support from the wildlife officials to evict the people of the vulnerable villages when elephants attack.

He said elephant repellents required to drive away wild elephants are bought from local fireworks manufacturers and 1.4 million elephant repellents required per year.

Measures taken so far to solve the human-elephant conflict only brought temporary relief, no permanent solutions have been found so far.

The Minister said the main reasons for elephant invasion are the human settlement in the forest lands where the elephants were roaming freely, and the use those lands for cultivation. The other reasons being as the absence of food and drinking water for the wild elephants.

The wildlife department officials who opined that there is a huge need of elephant repellents every year, and a lot of state funds need to be pumped in for that.

Though the villagers often complaint to the wildlife officials when elephants invade, due to the current fuel restrictions, practical difficulties have deterred them visiting the spots on time.

The officials also emphasized that due to the present price hike of raw materials, they may have to spend more than what they currently do on procuring elephant repellents. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 8

Dinusha Wednesday, 28 September 2022 12:04 PM

These freebies are the curse on the treasury. Can this country afford to spend this colossal amount when the farmers do not earn a fraction of that amount annually

Tak Tik Tuk Wednesday, 28 September 2022 12:05 PM

Move the Villagers away from Elephant lands...

Bandu Wednesday, 28 September 2022 12:59 PM

Something wrong for that much money unless 65% robbed.

Nirmal Wednesday, 28 September 2022 01:26 PM

Government spend, ministers loot from it forming private business, what a funny state.

D P P Prasad Wednesday, 28 September 2022 02:48 PM

It is impossible to drive the wild elephants away using the repellents. Because the elephants now have been so accustomed to the sound of the repellents which are not strong enough to chase the elephants away. Instead of repellents the wild life officers should concentrate on other strategies. Further the habitats of the wild elephants consist of the forests which are conserved by the both the forest department as well as wild life department. Therefore the both departments should work together in order to find out a permanent solution for this burning issue.

Girigoris Appu Wednesday, 28 September 2022 06:54 PM

Can anyone believe that Rs2,800/ Millions have been spent on only Repellants annually to drive away wild elephants? How successful has the Campaign been although we heard a great number of human lives lost and continue to lose. A good number of Officials both high and low may have no doubt become millionairs in the process?

Action for freedom Wednesday, 28 September 2022 08:30 PM

The government support the farmer as mentioned who displace the elephants. The madness for cultivation with all imported fertiliser and chemicals is driving for continued harm to the wild life. The army should be made token like 20,000 and the funds saved used to provide for the poor not to do illegal farming anymore. Minister near election time providing the land title later, for farmer illegally taking land is another show of corruption - taking from the the public lands for the doers of wrong for getting votes.

M.Phillip Thursday, 29 September 2022 05:55 AM

Let the Buddhist temples take in some of the male elephants for their pereharas the situation should improve over time. Further working elephants do not consume Gas but work in all terrain.

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Govt. spends Rs.2,800 mn annually on elephant repellents

Comments - 8

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