Delft animals endangered by polythene

Priyanka KURUGALA

The indiscriminate use of polythene and plastic material has threatened the lives of animals such as cattle, goats, donkeys and horses in the Delft Islands, which have been their habitat over a long period of time.

Undigested polythene found in a carcass

Carcasses of these animals are often found across the islands with undigested polythene in their stomachs, Delft Police OIC ENP Ekanayake said.

Polythene and plastic are strewn over many parts of the islands.

The animals consume these along with the grass leading to their untimely death, the OIC said.

The Police have taken action to find solutions to this and save the animals of Delft, he said.

There are 54 pits in the Delft island. These pits have been dug by the authorities to collect water for animals to drink during the dry season. Some of the pits were dug by the Dutch about 300 years ago. However until recently, these pits were filled with animal waste, mud and other bio waste. The Police cleared these pits through a shramadana campaign, he said.

Under the guidance of the Police a Dengue eradication programme was also held very successfully, on Delft he said.