Bright future for Lanka's wildlife

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

With more news and reports appearing in the media the Sri Lankan wildlife has re-entered as hot topics in today's world. Conserving a rich biodiversity in the country considered as one of the best in the world, the Sri Lanka wildlife authorities are responsible to protect the 'gems' of our country.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena said that considering the real ground situation, crimes against the environment have lowered comparing to past that existed along with terrorism. "Today we can properly enforce the law," Minister Chandrasena said.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: Environment concerned issues, wildlife are more highlighted in the media and we see an increase in the number of people interested in conservation. There seems to be more pressure on the authorities than in the past. How would you see this?

A: Considering the past there is less crimes in the jungles. When the terrorist threat existed in our country they were living in the forests and wildlife officials couldn't reach many of these areas.

But today Sri Lankan forests are free from terrorism and law enforcement authorities can reach any place in our wildlife areas. We can properly enforce the law. The war damaged many animals in the jungles and today all that is stopped. Being a biodiversity hot spot in the world what happens to the environment becomes strong news and that is what the media picks up. But as wildlife authorities monitoring the ground situation see that the threats to the wildlife have lowered. To strengthen our manpower the Civil Defence Force agreed to release 3,000 of their officials. They will be given a special training and will take part in wildlife protecting activities.

Q: There were discussions to change the Fauna and Flora Ordinance. How is this happening? There were accusations that this was a move to make more space for illegal trades of wildlife?

A: Definitely there is not going to be any space to harm the Sri Lankan biodiversity. Our discussions were to strengthen the existing law. It will be to stop illegal trades.

Q: Human settlements and certain development works are disturbing the traditional elephant corridors these animal were using over generations. This has also led to the aggravating Human - Elephant conflict. What steps have the Wildlife authorities taken to rectify this?

A: The elephant survey we conducted recently provides all the necessary information for us to control this situation.

We need to designated areas for human settlement and development away from the elephant corridors. The report is being prepared by the Wildlife Conservation Department and we will forward our plan to the Government through this.

The wildlife officials will continue to visit the wildlife areas and find what the ground situation is and what poses a threat to the elephants. There will be comprehensive report on this with suggestions that will be forwarded to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Q: Considering the past experience of the Human - Elephant Conflict major part of the complaints were from newly settled areas and not the traditional villager living in their areas with a heavy presence of elephants. Isn't this a problem with co-existence?

A: People without a proper land to live have forcibly gone and settled in Government lands. We need to give a solution to these people too.

They need a land for them to live a dignified life. In the report we are preparing based on the recent Elephant Survey we look in to this matter too. Considering those situations we may have to come up with solutions like a resettlement plan where the village will be reestablished in a different place with more facilities and save the elephant corridor.

Otherwise this problem will continue in the generations to come damaging the society and its economy.

I proposed to the Government to set up an Elephant Conservation Centre in Weheragala, Horowpothana and Maduru Oya.

These will be set up along with elephant holding grounds where we can keep trouble elephants. We may not need to keep them in these for long. May be until they overcome the musth period.

Later we will be able to release them back to the wild. Some we may have to care for lifetime.

But even then they will be able roam in the holding ground area and we provide food for them. We need to protect the lives of these elephants.

Q: What is being done to mitigate the elephant deaths due to train accidents?

A: Last week we held a special workshop for the Railway Department officials to educate them on the important role they can play to save the elephant. The Railway authorities have agreed to impose speed limits on necessary areas. Specially when traveling along the jungle paths.

Q: What are the new steps taken up by the ministry to upgrade the wildlife sector?

A: The latest attempt would be to upgrade the wildlife parks and reserves in the country. We need to upgrade them to the international standard. It is already planned.

As the first step we focus on the Wilpattu national park. Along with the development activities in the area prior to the 'Deyata Kirula' exhibition, the planned work in the park is to start and the total estimated cost would be around Rs. 400, 000, 000. Under this 300 kilometres of the road network in the park will be upgraded.

There is a deficiency in the number of holiday bungalows in the park so for that we have planned to build 11 bungalows. Fifteen camp sites will be established in this park. The park spread across approximately over a 350,000 ha land area and it needs a new beat office in order to control the poaching threat posed from hunters.

There is a considerable poaching threat from the adjoining villages. So in order to control this situation we decided to establish 15 beat offices.

To stop elephants roaming into the villages a 95 kilometre long electric fence will be built.

The Wildlife office need to be reconstructed to create a better working environment for the officers and that is also a part of the present development plan.

Lack of food and water during difficult times is one of the main reasons that lead animals to move into the nearby villages and to minimise this we have to increase water and food in abundance in the park.

So under this development plan 25 new tanks will be constructed in appropriate places. We have identified ten ponds that have been abandant and these will be reconstructed too.

The number of entrance gates will be increased. One would from the Puttalam side and the other one from the Mannar side. Another one would be from Wilachchiya (Anuradhapura) side and another from Tantrimale side.

All together there will be five entrances to the park. The new ones will be built under the present plan.

So far out of the total area of the park only 200,000 ha was used and in the rest the roads were abandoned and today is without adequate accessibility even to wildlife officers. So we need to develop the road network in this part as well.

Q: Other than Wilpattu..?

A: Yala National park will be the next step. The park spreads nearly over a 325,000 ha. Only 175,000 ha is being used. Most of the forest between 'Menik ganga' and 'Kumbukkan Oya' is not used.

So we are looking into the possibility of making part of it accessible for environment enthusiastic visitors. In Yala, 10 camp sites will be built. We intend to build a new bridge to cross the 'Menik ganga' for those who enter the park from Palatupane. If we can create a route up to Kumana through this, it will be more attractive for the visitors who enter the park. We intend to build a pier on the 'Kumbukkan Oya'.

We are also looking into the required administration changes in the park set up when this new route is created.

This would make enable a visitor on tour in the east to visit Kumana and Yala entering through Kumana and vis versa. In Yala we opened two of the abandoned entrances at Katagamuwa and Galge. Next would be the Wasgamuwa National Park.

The number of visitors in 2011 shows a significant increase compared to 2010. Within eight months Yala earned Rs. 180 Million. If possible we intend to double the income by next year. This increased income would further support our efforts in wildlife conservation.

This is a sector where there could be enormous economical contribution.

When the country is trying to promote tourism as a profitable industry we need to develop the facilities and conditions of the National parks as it is compulsory tourist destination.

Sri Lanka is a unique country where a visitor could see many wild animals freely roaming in the jungle.

A tourist needs not take long expeditions to see most of the animals. Many could be easily spotted when taking a tour in a park in a safari jeep.