Some 14,000 firearms released to general public for killing elephants

More tragedies similar to Bathiya will take place with the government’s decision

By Yohan Perera   

More elephants will be shot in the future with the steps taken by the Minister of Agriculture K. D. Lalkantha to release 14,000 firearms to the general public in villages to kill elephants and other animals who enter their property, an opposition MP said yesterday.   

 “More tragedies similar to episode of elephant Bathiya who succumbed to its injuries yesterday would happen in the future because of the present government’s attitude of encouraging people to kill animals,” Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said.   

“What the Agriculture Minister wants people to do is to shoot and kill elephants and other animals who enter their properties. What is needed is adaptation of scientific methods to minimize damages caused by animals,” he said.   

He said some 675 elephants have been killed last year alone while more than 100 people have lost their lives as a result of the human - elephant conflict.   

Furthermore, the MP questioned as to why the authorities decided to get down Indian experts to treat Bathiya when there are experts in the veterinary unit of Peradeniya University. “The Indian experts have recommended ending of Bathiya’s life through injecting poison,” he said.