Elephant conservation project at Horowpothana, Lunugamvehera

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has launched large scale projects for elephant conservation in Sri Lanka. Establishing two elephant holding grounds and a new conservation centre for orphaned elephant calves and juveniles will be the main focus.

"Accelerating the ongoing program at Horowpothana and initiating a new project in Lunugamvehera will be the two projects related to establishing elephant holding grounds at a cost of Rs. 850 million," said H.D. Ratnayake, Director (Operations) of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Another conservation centre will be set up in Ritigala as a shelter for orphaned elephants. The elephant holding grounds will serve as conservation centres where elephants facing a conflict situation with humans will be sheltered.

"Some elephants get injured and some become blind, like the Galgamuwa tusker, as a result of conflict situations. Taking care of them by Wildlife officials will be much efficient in such centres," Ratnayake said.

According to Ratnayake, the Horowpothana elephant conservation site can accommodate 50 elephants while the Lunugamwehera site will be able to shelter 30 elephants. "The number of elephants at each site will only be increased over time and when there is a need for additional food, we have already drawn plans to provide them with extra food. For this, we will be purchasing vegetables, fruits and grains that elephants like such as pumpkin and corn from the local farmers," Ratnayake said.

"The electric fence at Lunugamvehera is 34 kilometres and in Horowpothana it is 18 kilometers. The Department will set up the fence based on a new method with three barriers," he said. There will be two electric fences and another fence in between with two rope fixed in high tension. "Even when there is no electricity on the fences, the elephants will not be able to escape the boundary," he added.

According to Ratnayake, the Lunugamvehera site has three large tanks including the Lunugamvehera tank and several small tanks will be renovated when establishing the site.

The Ritigala site will care for the orphaned elephants similar to the Eth Athuru Sevana in Uda Walawa does," Ratnayake added. The site extends over 1,100 hectares which holds around five water tanks.

"The availability of water and food throughout the year for elephants as well as their protection were considered when selecting these sites," Ratnayake said.