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

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

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  vulnerable areas when the beasts enter farmlands and villages in search of food.  

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 when elephants destroy crops.  

He said elephant repellents required to drive away wild elephants are bought from local fireworks manufacturers and 1.4 million elephant repellents are 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 of forest  lands for cultivation. The other reasons being is the lack of food and drinking water for 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 complain 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. 

• Due to the present price hike of raw materials, they may have to spend more than what they currently do on procuring elephant repellents