First ever croc park

Matara Group Corr and Akuressa Central Special Corr

The country's first ever crocodile park is to be set up on a 50 acre plot of land in Kiralakelle belonging to the Wild Life Conservation Department on the banks of the Nilwala Ganga to prevent the crocodile-human conflict by restricting the reptiles to an encircled area.

This follows a proposal made by Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dallas Alahapperuma which was adopted at a meeting held at the Matara District Secretariat recently to discuss measures to overcome the crocodile threat in the Nilwala Ganga.

Since two women fell victim to crocodiles in the Nilwala Ganga during the past two weeks alone it was decided to build two enclosures in the Nilwala Ganga to trap in crocodiles as a short term measure. The Matara GA Mrs W K K Athukorale agreed to release a sum of Rs 40,000 to the Wild Life Conservation Department immediately to put up one of these enclosures without delay.

It was also decided to conduct public awareness campaign about the crocodile threat as proposed by Director General of Wildlife S D Ratnayake.

It was also decided to clear up the river banks in the crocodile infested area by cutting and removing branches of trees hugging the river banks and over grown vegetation so that crocodiles lying in wait to prunce on humans could be easily visible to the naked eye. Furthermore owners of animal husbandry farms on the banks of the river would be requested to desist from discarding offal and other farm refuse into the river.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Centre has taken steps to set up public stand pipes to supply water to families living beside the Nilwala Ganga and set up another 30 common bathing enclosures in the Nilwala Ganga to protect bathers from crocodile attacks.