Backing of local politicians alleged Animals in the Ja-Ela zoo maltreated

– WCD officials

By Gayan Kumara Weerasingha and Ajith Pushpakumara

Investigations into the private zoo that was raided at Ja-Ela have revealed that the animals on the premises have been subjected to torture. The feathers of some eagles had been trimmed to prevent them from flying, an official from the Wildlife and Conservation Department (WCD) said.
The WCD had raided a garden complex at Weligampitiya, Ja-Ela last week for having allegedly and illegally maintained a private zoo, reportedly with the backing of local politicians.

Parts of an elephant found
This particular zoo is said to be popular among school children, and the management had also staged several World Childrens’ Day festivals with state patronage in the past.
WCD officials had received many complaints that the animals kept in this zoo were being maltreated resulting in them conducting the raid, taking action against the manager as per the law, and taking steps to protect the animals in the compound.
The officials had also found birds such as doves (kobbeiya), tortoises, and even the bones of a dead elephant.
As per the WCD and Environment Conservation Act, any person or persons maintaining a private zoo are in direct violation or contravention of the law, and if animal parts are kept as souvenirs, the owners should renew their licences for such items, annually.
It has now been revealed that the manager had kept the body parts of an elephant among his personal possessions.
An official of the WCD who participated in the raid told LAKBIMAnEWS that among other animals found in the private zoo at Ja-Ela were stags, deer, wild boar and porcupines. It is mandatory that all animals so kept have to be seen by vets regularly.

Owners tipped off
An official commented that though they had been informed that there were many species kept in the zoo, most of the animals were missing from the complex at the time the raid was conducted, leading them to believe that the management would have been tipped off, of the impending raid.
WCD officials added that this private zoo had been home to birds from other parts of the world, many types of animals and varieties of fish that the public were allowed to view.
The manager who had been taken into custody was produced before the Negombo Magistrate recently while the animals are to be handed over to the Dehiwala Zoo.

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