Elephant census begins

Thousands of workers, soldiers and volunteers fanned out across Sri Lanka yesterday to begin the country’s first national elephant survey despite a boycott by some wildlife groups.

Hundreds of conservationists decided not to take part because of fears prompted by comments from a minister that the survey will be used to seize elephants and send them to temples for use in religious ceremonies. Some 4,000 people are taking part in the two-day survey which is the first time formerly war-ravaged Sri Lanka has attempted to count elephants in all of its national parks ,

The enumerators headed out before dawn on Friday and started the count at watering holes, ancient irrigation tanks and lakes commonly used by elephants.