Tourism industry:

Stakeholders must show: corporate Environment Responsibility

By Gamini Warushamana

The prolonged drought has now affected all economic activity in the Dry Zone. Since droughts are frequent and disastrous, sustainable programs to minimise its impact have become vital.

The plight of the people suffering without water for drinking purposes and farmers losing crops are highlighted in the media and the government, the public, corporate and other charities have launched various initiatives to support them. However, wildlife in national parks and forest reserves are also suffering without any support.

Kumana National Park in the Eastern Province has felt the impact of the drought severely and we heard that wild animals are dying due to lack of water and food. However, on August 18, the day we reached Kumana, scattered showers had started and it was raining from Moneragala to Pottuvil and in Arugam Bay.

Hard hit

The rain was insignificant and on the following day the whole park and the lakes remained dry.

According to deputy park warden P. Sanjeewa herbivorous animals in the park have been hard hit by the drought and animals such as elephants which can walk long distances in search of water and food or migrate to safe places are less affected.

The animals that have limited habitat areas and cannot walk long distances suffer severely.

Among them the plight of buffaloes is tragic and dozens of carcasses could be seen in dried and cracked beds of lakes.

All the lakes at the Kumana National Park have dried up and only a little water remains in the Kumana Villu wetland.

Buffaloes and all other animals are now scattered around the Villu but unfortunately water is out of reach for some small animals like deer.

Arugam Bay

Buffaloes in the Kumana Villu too are dying in pools of mud. The water level is not sufficient for them to cool their overheated bodies or for thermo-regulation.

The other reason may be lack of food. Usually buffaloes eat a large quantity of grass but now they have nothing to eat.

It might be as a result of disease, related to heat and drought but so far no study has been done.

Kumana is a paradise for bird watching and being in close to Arugam Bay beach, a large number of local and foreign tourists visit Kumana throughout the year. The park earns sufficient money to develop infrastructure to protect its wildlife during this type of natural catastrophe but the facilities are inadequate.

The Department of Wildlife has constructed small ponds and supplies water by bowser.

There are eight ponds in and outside the park but it is not sufficient for all the animals. Some true nature lovers have donated money to construct ponds and doctors of the Ampara district hospital are constructing one. The cost of a pond is around Rs.120,000.

Only two bowsers are available to supply water and due to the terrain and condition of the roads, tractor bowsers are better suited, park officials said.

There are several large natural ponds in rocks that can store a large quantity of water.

Kumbukkan Oya on the borders of Block 2 of the Yala National Park is one source but water cannot be carried to the other end of the park due to a dilapidated bridge.

Locations have been identified for three tube wells but financial constraints have delayed construction. The cost of a tube well is around Rs. 35,000.

Natural beauty

As the tourism industry is booming all stakeholders of the industry are reaping its fruits and what all of them sell the natural beauty of this land.

Therefore, corporates too have a responsibility to protect them and ensure their sustainability.

Kumana wildlife which are sold over and again by all tourism industry stakeholders are now in need of support. It is also time for true nature lovers to demonstrate their commitment. Park authorities later said that the rains that started on August 18 did not continue and the situation at the park is becoming worse. With the increase in water level at Kumbukkan Oya, the water level in Kumana Villu too has increased a little.

It is clear that without outside support there is no relief for the wild animals because we have to wait another two months for North East monsoon rains.