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Human-elephant conflict:
Over 220 jumbos killed last year
Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna
MUDALIGE
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Ranjith
Siyambalapitiya |
Economic Development Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday
in Parliament that 228 elephants and tuskers were killed as a result of
the human-elephant conflict in 2009. Fifty persons were killed as a
result of elephant attacks during the same period, he further said.
Minister Siyambalapitiya answering a question raised by UPFA National
List MP Achala Suranga Jagoda told Parliament that there were around
6,000 elephants and tuskers in Sri Lanka as at the end of 2009.
The Minister said that a program is being implemented to minimise the
Human-elephant conflict. The program consists of projects such as
erecting electrified fences, establishing elephant orphanages and
training wild jumbos and relocating them in the jungles.
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