Sri Lankan vets better

Asela KURULUWANSA and Indika POLKOTUWA

Sri Lankan Veterinary Scientists are far ahead of their counterparts in other Asian countries such as India, Thailand and Myanmar, said Peradeniya University Veterinary Science Senior Lecturer Ashoka Dangolla addressing the media at Kandy Sinhala Traders' Front auditorium Monday.

he said that only two percent of elephants in Sri Lanka die when being transferred from one forest to another, whereas in other Asian countries the corresponding figure is about 10 percent.

He said that during a year about 60 elephants are being transferred from forest to forest due to the human-elephant conflict. Dangolla was of the view that it was wrong to accuse the veterinary scientist involved in the recent transfer of the elephant which died while being transported to a different forest. "Only a full investigation could reveal the actual cause of the death of that elephant," he added.

Dangolla also said that the Wildlife Department has only seven veterinarians and they are rendering a great service amid great difficulties.