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Crocodile seized from Weliweriya resident

by Florence Wickramage

In a lightening raid conducted on a tip off on Tuesday the Wild Life Department's Flying Squad had seized a Crocodile and five Star-Tortoises reared for sale at a house in Weliweriya, Gampaha. They took into custody the owner D. Karunadasa alias D.Nihal Antony Karunadasa Perera.

On the pretext of purchasing these reptiles the Wildlife officers called over at the suspect's house, who offered to sell the Crocodile for Rs. 75,000/- and the Star Tortoises at Rs. 500 each.

The suspect had admitted that the crocodile was captured from the Dandugam Oya 19 years ago. The 20-year-old Crocodile is now seven feet long. The reptiles are protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

The Gampaha Magistrate fined the suspect Rs. 20,000/- and instructed wildlife officers to release the seized reptiles to the Uda Walawe National Park.

The raid was led by Wildlife Ranger W.A.A.D.U.Indrajith assisted by Wildlife Guards Lalith Wijithananda, Kamal Lalith Peiris, Sarath Perera and Driver I.D. Jinadasa.

Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation H.M.B.C. Herath requests the general public to contact the DWLC on Hotline No. 669783 (Twenty four hours) if they come across any offence contravening the provisions of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance.

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