Over 5000 Elephants To Be Caged

The government is preparing to virtually cage between 5500 – 6000 wild elephants to prevent the escalating human-elephant conflict.

Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S. M. Chandrasena told The Sunday Leader that the beasts will be shifted to selected locations and have electric fences around them.

He said that so far around 5500 to 6000 elephants which pose a threat to villagers in several areas around the country have been identified for transportation.

The Minister said that the specific locations to ‘cage’ the elephants will be set up in Weharagala in the Southern province, Maduruoya in the Eastern Province and Horowpathana in the Wayamba province.

He said that over 3000 acres of land have been identified for this project and the elephants which will be caged in the area will be provided with food purchased from farmers.

Environmentalists however reacted angrily to the move saying the wild animals must have freedom to roam wherever they want and should not be caged.

The government carried out the first comprehensive census to take account of the number of elephants in Sri Lanka.

Most environmental groups however had boycotted the elephant census which was held over the past three days.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/08/14/over-5000-elephants-to-be-caged/