Archives

Be a jumbo parent!

by Florence Wickramage

Eleven Baby Jumbos at the Ath Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home) at Uda Walawe are in need of public assistance for their upkeep. There are a total of 28 baby elephants at the home and 18 of them are supported by Foster Parents.

The Director of the Wildlife Conservation Department, Dayananda Kariyawasam appeals for public assistance to provide food and medical supplies for the 11 baby elephants who do not have foster parents. Animal lovers and environmentalists as well as children are welcome to contribute in whatever way they could either in cash or kind for the upkeep of these babies. The upkeep of a baby elephant requires Rs. 10,000/- per month for milk and medicine.

Mr. Kariyawasam said the Ath Athuru Sevana is engaged in a humanitarian and a national mission to help protect the dwindling elephant population in the country. Baby elephants who are stranded or orphaned in the jungles are being cared for in the Transit Home. Most of them have been found in pits and dry wells dug in agricultural lands; being orphaned when the mother is killed; or wounded by trap guns. These baby jumbos are being fed and treated for their wounds in the Transit Home.

As the name denotes, these baby elephants once cared for are released to the wilds when they reach a certain age. At the Transit Home these baby jumbos attach themselves to small groups, and they are released to the jungles in the same group they attach themselves to.

Director Kariyawasam said that already 17 baby elephants in three instalments of 5, 4 and 8 have been released to the jungles. Before release they are tied with a Radio Collar which helps the Staff at the Ath Athuru Sevana to monitor their movements and progress. All the baby jumbos thus released have adapted themselves to life in their natural habitats, and are doing well. Thus the mission of the Transit Home is a success, Mr. Kariyawasam said.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager