Moves to minimise human - elephant conflict underway

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group corr.

The Wildlife Conservation Department has reinforced remedial measures to minimise human-elephant conflict which is on the increase. Special attention has been focused to strengthen existing electrified fences and create a number of protective fences.

North Western Wildlife Conservation Zone, Conservation Officer S.A. Sarath told the Daily News that a 45 kilometre long new electrified fence will be created from Kalawewa (South) range towards Undhuruwa via Dambewatawa.

This fence would provide protection to nearly 30 hamlets such as Horapola Sekkupiitya, Neekiniyawa, Karambankulama, Kagama and Barawila. The project will cost the Wildlife Department nearly Rs. 20 million, he said.

Meanwhile the Kalawewa sanctuary will be made a national reserve to protect the wildlife in the area.

Boundaries of the national reserve will be demarcated sans the villages and habitations within the sanctuary.

Once the national reserve has been declared, poaches and timber racketeers in the sanctuary will be prevented from devastating the jungle and the wildlife, Sarath said.

He said nearly 8,000 to 10,000 (elephants crackers) Ali Wedi have being issued to farmers in Galgamuwa, Karuwalagaswewa Kotawehera, Kekirawa and Talawa areas to drive away wild-elephants invading villages.