Village project with a difference

Aranayaka Spl. Corr. P A Meegahamulahena

Damage to crops by wild animals has been a problem in most villages in Aranayaka for decades. Villagers who have tried different methods to prevent wild animals invading their gardens had been unsuccessful. Wild boars, monkeys, porcupines, bats, birds and giant squirrels have been the bane of the villagers.

This dilemma of the villagers, soon fell on the ears of Agricultural Research and Production Assistant N W Senavirathna of Aranayaka, and the concept of establishing a wildlife sanctuary became a reality.

A 16-acre block of crown land, on a hilly tract known as “Dahaiyagala” was set apart as a wildlife reserve and planted with different types of fruit trees, yams and root crops to feed the animals and make it their ecosystem.

People of the surrounding villages have volunteered to continue planting fruit crops in this reserve while maintaining it as a forest cover for animals to live freely. If this project was successfully implemented, it would in a few years, turn out to be a man-made wildlife ecosystem in the area, and would certainly reduce crop damage in village cultivations.

The authorities should also make this wildlife reserve a no poaching area to make this a viable project.