Elephant-human conflict victims on the rise in Kurunegala

The elephant-human conflict has claimed the lives of 24 people in the Kurunegala district during the last two years, Kurunegala District Secretary C.B. Bulumulla said.

Damage caused to lives and property by wild elephants has heavily increased during the last two years compared to the previous years. One factor which led to this high incidence was the failure on the part of wildlife authorities to respond quickly when villages are threatened by rampaging wild elephants.

Agitation campaigns carried out by affected villagers has also caused inconvenience to Divisional Secretaries and their officials because most campaigns are staged Opposite Divisional Secretariat offices.

The problems caused by this elephant-human conflict and remedial measures were discussed at a meeting of State officials at the Mahawa Divisional Secretariat on the direction of President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunge recently.

The following were identified as main contributory factors to the high incidence of damage to life and property caused by wild elephants.

Failure on the part of wildlife officials to take quick action when notified about the wild elephant menace, non-completion of the electrified fence being erected to ward off wild elephants, shortage of staff and vehicles to maintain the section of the electrified fence erected halfway, lack of public co-operation to drive away elephants and the elephants sweet tooth for food items like paddy, coconuts and bananas.

It was also pointed out that there was a reluctance on the part of farmers in Galgamuwa, Yapahuwa and Nikaweratiya areas to continue their agricultural activities which forms their main livelihood owing to the threat of wild elephants.