Nimal WIJESINGHE- Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent
The operation to drive wild elephants in Srawasthipura, Talawa and Ulukkulama to the Wilpattu sanctuary is in progress, North-Western Wildlife Zone Assistant Wildlife Affairs Director W S Weragama said.
He said that temporary electrified fences have been set up in the process. "There are around 25 to 30 wild jumbos roaming about.
The animals are a nuisance to villagers in Srawasthipura and Ulukkulama areas. As the reserve landscape starting from Maradankadawala road towards Nachchaduwa reservoir area is being cleared unlawfully for large scale cultivation, the wild elephants which haunted the locality have migrated to the populated zone.
There are encroachers occupying 25 to 30 acres of the forest for maize cultivation," Weragama said. He said that his men are attempting to push the scattered jumbos to the main drive route towards Wilpattu.
Weragama said that wildlife officials were looking for two stubborn and violent wild elephants belonging to the stranded herd to be entrapped and transported to a distant forest reserve or a sanctuary. "For the safety of villagers in Thanthirimale, Hunuwilagama, Kukulkatuwa, Ranorawa, Ittikulama, Kudawilachchiya, Wilachchiya paralled to the Anuradhapura District Deyata Kirula programme, the construction of a 75 kilometre electrified fence is under way at a cost of around Rs 400 million, Weragama said.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/08/08/news50.asp
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