Action to deal with crocodile threat

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Agrarian Services Ministry is taking action to deal with man-eating crocodiles under the direction of Wildlife Deputy Director and Veterinary Surgeon Prasad Tharaka, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister SM Chandrasena said.

“A group of wildlife officers have devised an action plan to tackle the menace”, he said.

“These crocodiles will be looked after and cared for until they are dispatched to a conservation centre”, he said.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister SM Chandrasena told the Daily News that, measures have been taken to establish two crocodiles conservation parks with immediate effect to prevent mishaps of the nature which were reported recently.

The minister said the surroundings areas of the Nilwala River and Muturajawela sites are threatened areas due to breading of crocodiles.

Minister SM Chandrasena said that a five acres of the Muturajawela site has been earmarked for crocodile conservation while another park.

“The man-eating crocodile population has increased in the Nilwala river. On the other hand, people are in the habit of dumping animal waste from slaughter houses and poultry houses into water canals attracting crocodiles. It caused to reach crocodiles towards human settlements”, he said. “In spite of the authorities advising people not to use areas which are known crocodile territory, many people use to get their daily water requirements from the Nilwala river exposing them to threats from crocodiles,” he said.