Elephant-human conflict :
Shrinking habitat main cause - Minister
Walter DAYARATNE Anuradhapura District Spl Corr
The main cause for the elephant-human conflict is the rapid increase
in the elephant population and the shrinking habitat, said Agrarian
Services and Wildlife Minister S. M. Chandrasena.
The minister said between 1930 and 1940, 41 percent of the country's
land mass was forest cover which has now been reduced to 21 percent.
"The elephant population in 1993 which was approximately 2,500 has
now increased to 6,000. This has resulted in elephants ravaging
villages, killing villagers and destroying cultivation in search of
food."
The minister said, as a solution to this problem, protective regions
for elephants, each consisting of 300 acres will be reserved at several
places.
Weheragala, Maduru Oya in the Polonnaruwa district and Palugadawala
in the Anuradhapura District have already been selected for this
purpose.
'It is proposed to construct three ponds in each protective region
and provide the required food quantities by growing necessary flora.
'These regions will be converted into tourist attractions. We hope to
tame these elephants and provide them for peraharas too.
'The government funds will not be required to maintain these regions,
since an ample income is expected through tourism, the minister said.
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