Concerns raised over elephants feeding on garbage

By Nimal Jayaratne   

Residents of the area expressed concern about the danger  facing them from a herd of wild elephants feeding on garbage disposed of by  the government and private sector institutions at Katuwawila Road by  the ZD canal in Welikanda.   

They said the wild elephants frequenting the roadside  were a danger to the public, and feeding garbage was a serious health hazard  to the wild elephants as well. Environmentalists pointed out that wild  animals and cattle feeding on garbage were susceptible to diseases  that caused their untimely deaths.   

Residents of the area said a herd of wild elephants from  Somawathi and Thrikonamaduwa forest reserve, and the stray cattle have  been feeding on garbage that included hospital waste. They said they  were living in constant fear of any possible danger from the wild  elephants roaming into the village.