Leopards for trade or not?

No records to prove leopard skin trade in Sri Lanka

By Ifham Nizam

A leading researcher and taxonomist says there are no records to prove that the recent killings of leopards has any connection with the leopard skin trade in the country.

Researcher Kelum Manamendra-arachchi told The Island on Wednesday (22) that villagers were conversant with the importance of the country’s top predator and the conservation laws. "Thus, it is no easy task for anyone to deal in the leopard skin trade."

However, he said that mushrooming farmlands and domestic animals had been attracting more leopards than in the past.

Manamendra-arachchi says a leopard attacked a tea planter recently around 10.00 a.m. in the Agrapathana Estate when many people

were around. "Our investigations revealed that there are many animals close to human habitats at night resulting in attacks on humans too," he added.

He says in the past, despite Sri Lanka recording the highest density of leopards when compared to the number of square kilometres, there were no threats to the biggest cat in the country.

However, the Department of Wildlife records indicated that five leopards had been killed in 2011, he said.

The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), is a subspecies of leopard native to Sri Lanka. Leopards are classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union –IUCN. The leopard population is believed to be declining due to numerous threats including poaching for trade and human-leopard conflicts.

An official said yesterday that the numbers may be much more though Sri Lanka had no big records of the illegal skin trade, but it may be a probability.

According to the Wildlife Department the number of deaths came to light when a rare species, a six-foot beast, was killed by poachers at the Minneriya, Girithale National park.

The Island learns under the instructions of Agrarian and Wildlife Minister S. M. Chandrasena the number of raids at the National Parks has been increased.

Source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=28472