All set for first elephant census

Disna MUDALIGE

Arrangements are in place for the first islandwide elephant census to be conducted from August 11 to 13, a spokesperson from the Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD) told the Daily News yesterday.

She said that 15 national parks will be closed for day visitors during these three days to facilitate the census. Accordingly Yala, Udawalawa, Bundala, Kaudulla, Minneriya, Wasgamuwa, Maduruoya, Angammedilla, Jalagelummilla, Somawathiya, Lunugamvehera, Wilpattu, Kumana, Galoya and Lahugala national parks will be closed as the officers and other staff are due to take part in the census. However, visitors who have already booked bungalows will be allowed to enter the parks.

The spokesperson added that a team of experts from the Indian Wildlife Institute will arrive in the country during the first week of August to help and consult in carrying out the census.

The WCD officials, military personnel, volunteers from NGOs and villagers will also participate in the elephant count. The census will be based on water holes, reservoirs and tanks.

The spokesperson said that not only an elephant count but also elephant pathways, health and injuries of elephants will also be observed during the census. She said that this will be a good opportunity to identify the juvenile, sub-adult, adult and tusker elephant population in the island separately. She noted that the data gathered through this census will be effectively used to develop an elephant conservation management plan to suit Sri Lanka.

It is believed that the elephant population in Sri Lanka may range from 5,000 to 6,000. She said that the number of calves and sub-adults is comparatively high among Sri Lankan elephants.

"Therefore, we can assume that the elephant population in the country was growing gradually. However, it is observed that calves were often the victims of the locally made explosive device Hakka patas, train accidents and natural diseases," she explained.