Archives

Transit Home to release another batch of elephants to Uda Walawe

by Florence Wickramage

Another batch of baby elephants from the Ath Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home) at Uda Walawe will be released to the Uda Walawe National Park on June 1. This is the fourth batch to be released and comprises of 7 females and 4 males ranging from age three and a half to four, Director General of the Wildlife Conservation Department H. M. B. C. Herath told the Daily News yesterday.

The Elephant Transit Home takes in baby elephants who have been stranded or orphaned and look after them till they are of age to be released to their natural habitats. These baby jumbos are sent to the Ath Athuru Sevana from various parts of the country. These babies are provided with voluntary Foster Parents who financially help the Transit Home for their upkeep. The foster parents are afforded the privilege of naming their charges and visiting them during their stay in the Home.

The female baby elephants scheduled to be released are Manel rescued from Haldummulla, Indivari from Kantalai, Premani from Maha Oya, Rohini from Pottuvil, Devika from Anuradhapura, Malani from Vavuniya and Miyuri from Mahaveli. The male baby elephants are Channa from Suriyawewa, Navaloka from Sigiriya, Namal from Namal Oya and Rohana from Mahavilachchiya.

As in former occasions, three of these baby jumbos will be fitted with radio-collars to enable officials at the Ath Athuru Sevana to monitor their movements and progress with regard to joining other herds living in the wild.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rukman Senanayake will be present. Representatives from the "Born Free" non-governmental environmental organisation will present Minister Senanayake with a Backhoe machine for the use of the Transit Home.

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