Disna MUDALIGE
Work on four elephant conservation sites planned in selected areas to control the human-elephant conflict would be completed within the next year, Wildlife Conservation Department director general H D Ratnayake told the Daily News yesterday.
He said that the centre in Veheragala has been completed, while the construction of the three other centres in Horowpathana, Maduru Oya and Galgamuwa will be completed within the next year using the budgetary allocation of Rs 100 million.
He said that each of these conservation centres has an area of about 1,500 to 2,000 hectares. All land utilized to set up these centres belong to the Department. Ratnayake said that aggressive wild elephants which often cause damage to village property, affecting the ordinary lives of the people would be relocated in these conservation centres.
He said that ample food and water would be available to the wild elephants in these centres with electrified fences erected around the sanctuaries to prevent these animals encroaching into villages.
As reported, about 200 elephants have died during this year both due to natural causes and as a result of the human-elephant conflict.
Forty eight persons have become victims of the human-elephant conflict during the year. The Director General observed that compared to previous years there is a decline of the number of human lives claimed by the human-elephant conflict.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/12/30/news12.asp
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