Archives

Radio-collared baby elephants tracked to Uda Walawe National Park

by Florence Wickramage

The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) assisted by the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust has tracked the first two batches of `the Radio-collared baby elephants released to the Uda Walawe National Park from the Elephant Transit Home, DWLC Director Dayananda Kariyawasam told the Daily News yesterday.

Nine juveniles were released in two batches in March 1998 and June 2000 to the Uda Walawe National Park. The two batches consisted four males including a tusker and five females. Of this, three males (including the tusker) and three females have radio-collars.

Kariyawasam said the released baby elephants were located and observed for five days each week and their ranging pattern and positions including positions in relation to the nucleus herd and other animals were recorded.

During August, September and October 2001, the relationship between the juveniles in the wild herd and the juveniles released from the

Elephant Transit Home to the park were observed in greater detail.

The wild elephants had been seen to be more together, active and playful in comparison to the newly introduced juveniles which in general tended to be more on their own. They were also seen hovering closer to the mature females in the herds compared to the wild ones.

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