Measures to detain wild elephants

by Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr.

The Wildlife Conservation Authorities have planned to set up a number of 'holding grounds' to detain wild jumbos who frequently invade the hamlets.

Manjula Amararatne, Assistant Director-in-Charge of North Western Wildlife Conservation Zone told the Sunday Observer that steps are being taken to start two wild elephants detention grounds at Ritigala along the Banks of Yanoya in Mihintale and at Lunugamwehera in the South.

The Ritigala holding ground will consist 1,000 hectares with a electrified fence which is nearly 50 kilometres in length. Discussions are being held whether a canal barrier around the holding ground is required in addition to the fence, Amararatne said. The project will be funded by the Gama Neguma project.

The Assistant Director said the wild jumbos haunt the remote villages in Horowpothana, Mahawilachchiya, Thirappane, Kekirawa and Kebithigollewa divisions in the Anuradhapura district. However, the human-elephant conflict is increasing in the Kurunegala district.

Amararatne said that when wild elephants are accommodated in the holding grounds they will become clam.