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by Florence Wickramage

Community participation as an essential component in the protection of wildlife habitats is the new concept introduced by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) in its ongoing programme aimed at minimising the human-elephant conflict.

Under this concept an electric fence erected in the Polonnaruwa District was officially inaugurated by Environment and Natural Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie recently.

The electric fence erected by the DWLC with community participation and at a cost of over 15 million rupees covers an extent of 12 1/2 kilometres from the Minneriya Tank to Giritale, 12 kms. from Irige Oya to Moragaswewa, and 12 kms. from Attanakadawala to Polgahawatta.

The communities in these areas are hopeful that the electric fence will save their lives and cultivations from wild animals such as wild elephants and wild boar who wander into the villages in search of food.

After the inauguration, Minister Fowzie told the villagers present that the electric fence was a temporary measure which could be replaced with a long-term solution of establishing live fences by planting thorny plant species such as Lime, Beaugainvillea and Jute. The Minister further informed the community that financial assistance could be afforded from the Ministry for planting live fences.

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