Looming conservation crises threaten Arugambay

View of Elephant Rock, Crocodile Rock from Shastrawela. Rave parties take place in habitats frequented by elephants. 

Pics by Kithsiri De Mel 

• For visitors who visit Arugambay, parties are always a  first choice, given the culture. But the fact that these parties are  set in areas frequented by elephants aggravates the situation at hand.  With bright lights and loud music, these parties begin around 10.00 pm  and continue until sunrise
• “People seem to be less aggressive towards elephants  than in other parts of the region. For instance, in the North Western  province, you would see elephant fences and all those, but here you  don’t see them much. Therefore, we have heard of fewer cases of HEC in  this area so far,”- Department of Wildlife Conservation Director General  Ranjan Marasinghe, the Eastern Province

Apart from braving the waves and surfing on the pristine  beaches of Arugambay, crowds are now attracted to observing wildlife on  the East Coast. But from the point of view of conservationists,  respective authorities need to pay more attention to safeguarding  several forest patches in the area, which are home to many herds of  elephants. During a recent visit to Arugambay, the Daily Mirror witnessed  how illegal encroachment, rave parties in areas frequented by  elephants, unsafe development along the estuary and coastal areas have  posed a threat to wildlife and the pristine marine environment.   

Serious lack of regulation 

Winding through the pristine landscape of Arugambay is the  iconic Heda Oya, providing a breathtaking view for anybody who observes  the landscape from Elephant Rock or Crocodile Rock. But as of late,  Elephant Rock has become a potential party location for those organising  parties in the area. Daily Mirror learns that plans are underway  to shift parties out of the tourism stretch in Arugambay so that it  doesn’t disturb other visitors. But once outside the tourism, as you  travel towards Panama, one would observe forest patches on either side  of the road, accompanied by vast paddy lands that attract elephants  during the harvesting season. While conservationists observe that these  forest patches ideally serve as Other State Forests, providing vital  ecosystem services, institutional failure has paved the way for people  to encroach into these areas sans any regulation. The Daily Mirror learned  how the estuary is being destroyed as people put up illegal  establishments by cutting down mangroves, despite the government  standing firm about illegal establishments along the coastline.   

An urgent call to protect Radella

One of the trending attractions in Arugambay includes the  Radella Tank and its surrounds, bordering the Kumbukkan Conservation  Forest, which has been declared a Protected Area. Gazetted in 2009 under  the Department of Forest Conservation, the Kumbukkan is bordered by  three wilderness areas: Lahugala Kitulana National Park and Pansalgoda  Other State Forest to the North, the Wattegama-Kebiliththa Reserved  Forest to the West and the South, the Kumana National Park and Panama  Kudumbigala Sanctuary.   

The Radella and Panama tanks are believed to be ancient  man-made reservoirs fed by three rivers – the Wila Oya, Kuruppan Odai  and Heda Oya. Protected areas allow for the safe passage of herds of  elephants and other wildlife that traverse the landscapes, thereby  maintaining the long-term survival of elephant herds in the East and  mitigating possible causes that would lead to HEC. The Kumbukkan is  therefore identified as a critical catchment, sustaining the livelihoods  of many people from farmers to fishermen, vegetable cultivators and  herders.  

However, as of late, it has been observed how tuk-tuk  drivers have been escorting visitors towards these sensitive areas.  Conservationists opine that visitors should visit these areas with  utmost caution and respect for the wildlife that have made this area  their home territory. At both entrances to Radella, signboards have been  put up by the Parrotfish Collective, a group of conservation  communicators who have actively been involved in spearheading  conservation efforts in the country, to remind individuals to be  responsible visitors, discouraging them from approaching animals,  feeding alcohol and consuming alcohol. But at the entrance itself, we  were greeted by litter that was scattered around in places. A backhoe  that had been extracting soil greeted us as we moved further towards the  interior. Anybody who opts for this mini safari would love the winding  roads through the conservation forest, sometimes wondering if one has  visited Wilpattu. As we moved towards the Radella tank, we saw how two  elephants were busy feeding on the grass. But we also observed how  illegal encroachments have disturbed the natural equilibrium in the  area. Such unregulated actions could possibly fuel the human-wildlife  conflict with drastic consequences for both humans and wildlife. The  presence of domesticated animals within this conservation area  aggravates the problem further.   

So far, the Eastern Province has not been affected by the  Human-Elephant conflict, but conservationists warn of a looming  conservation crisis if the authorities turn a blind eye towards  enforcing the law. On the other hand, a senior government official told  this paper that prior to hosting a party the organisers need to get  approval from the Pradeshiya Sabha, sound permits from the police  station and approval from Excise department for the sale of liquor etc.  Therefore the legal provisions are in place and it is up to the  authorities to ensure that people have abided by the law.   

Culture of rave parties 

For visitors who visit Arugambay, parties are always a  first choice, given the culture. But the fact that these parties are set  in areas frequented by elephants aggravates the situation at hand. With  bright lights and loud music, these parties begin around 10.00 pm and  continue until sunrise. On a given day, around 8-10 parties are  organised in and around Arugambay, many of which are in locations that  border forest patches and paddy lands.   

“Elephants are part and parcel of why people come here due  to the proximity of wildlife,” said a local business owner who spoke on  condition of anonymity. “Where else in the world could you go for a surf  and then see an elephant on the side of the road? It’s unique and  beautiful and needs to be conserved and mindfully looked after. The laws  need to be upheld here. There’s a great opportunity to set things  right,” the source said.   

A haven for illegal encroachment 

During our visit towards the Shastrawela archaeological site, the Daily Mirror learned  that this area is now being frequented by species such as the Sri  Lankan leopard, porcupine, mouse deer and many other species, adding to  the diversity of the landscape. The road leading up to Elephant Rock has  been illegally encroached, and during our visit, we observed how new  settlements are coming up on the banks of a nearby river where elephants  frequent.   

Fewer cases of HEC in the Eastern Province so far: DWC DG 

According to Department of Wildlife Conservation Director  General Ranjan Marasinghe, the Eastern province has vast areas of paddy  fields providing the opportunity for elephants to feed on paddy, etc.  “People seem to be less aggressive towards elephants than in other parts  of the region. For instance, in the North Western province, you would  see elephant fences and all those, but here you don’t see them much.  Therefore, we have heard of fewer cases of HEC in this area so far,” he  opined.   

Responding to a query on declaring Radella as a Protected  Area, he said that the land ownership needs to be considered prior to  declaring an area as a Protected Area. “The government should have 100%  land ownership in order to do that. We have Managed Elephant Reserves,  for instance, but we know that the first MER hadn’t been successful. On  the other hand, we now know that elephants live outside protected areas.  So we need to have a mechanism to monitor human activities in DWC or  Forest Department Lands,” he added.   

Several attempts to contact Forest Conservator General  W. W. M. P. S. C Palamakumbura to inquire about new approaches to  safeguard forest department territories from illegal encroachment  activities proved futile. 

Makeshift establishments along the estuary near Elephant Rock

Several areas at the entrance to Radella littered by visitors

The infamous scooter safaris which conservationists believe are risky given the sensitivity of the area

Elephant herds near Radella tank