Five elephant corridors to check growing HEC in A’pura
Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura, Sunday Observer
February 2, 2025
See link
https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2025/02/02/news/44200/five-elephant-corridors-to-check-growing-hec-in-apura/
for photo.
The North Central Province has the highest number and intensity of
Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) incidents compared to other provinces. This
was revealed at a meeting convened by North Central Governor Wasantha
Jinadasa last week.
The meeting at the Governor’s Office, included stakeholders such as
Wildlife and Forest Conservation officials, Divisional Secretaries, and
Departmental heads.
Secretary to the Governor, Vijaya Wanasinghe told the Sunday Observer that
of the 29 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the province, 27 have
witnessed a sharp rise in HEC in recent years. The most vulnerable areas
include Welikanda, Dimbulagala, and Medirigiriya in the Polonnaruwa
District and Horowpothana, Kebithigollewa, Galenbindunuwewa, Thirappane,
Kahatagasdigiliya, Nuwaragam Palatha Central, Wilachchiya, and
Thambuththegama in the Anuradhapura District.
The Governor has instructed immediate action through a strategic plan
incorporating short-term, mid-term, and long-term solutions. The
authorities have decided to set up five elephant corridors in the
Anuradhapura District at the Digampothana 5th Post,
Nachchaduwa-Mahakandarawa, Nachchaduwa-Wilpattu, and Puliyankulama as a
mid-term strategy. Steps will be taken to prevent encroachment on protected
areas, manage elephant habitats by growing grasslands, and rehabilitate
water tanks in conservation zones.
Short-term measures include forming HEC disaster mitigation committees at
village, divisional, district, and provincial levels. The authorities will
also work on identifying, capturing, and relocating isolated, problematic
male elephants as a priority measure.
Wanasinghe said that the responsibility of implementing these strategies
lies with the Wildlife, Forest, Irrigation, and Agrarian Development
Departments, the Divisional Secretariats and the Mahaweli Authority. Farmer
organisations are expected to play a crucial role in supporting these
efforts voluntarily.
https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2025/02/02/news/44200/five-elephant-corridors-to-check-growing-hec-in-apura/
Five elephant corridors to check growing HEC in A’pura
Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura, Sunday Observer
February 2, 2025
See link
<https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2025/02/02/news/44200/five-elephant-corridors-to-check-growing-hec-in-apura/>
for photo.
The North Central Province has the highest number and intensity of
Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) incidents compared to other provinces. This
was revealed at a meeting convened by North Central Governor Wasantha
Jinadasa last week.
The meeting at the Governor’s Office, included stakeholders such as
Wildlife and Forest Conservation officials, Divisional Secretaries, and
Departmental heads.
Secretary to the Governor, Vijaya Wanasinghe told the Sunday Observer that
of the 29 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the province, 27 have
witnessed a sharp rise in HEC in recent years. The most vulnerable areas
include Welikanda, Dimbulagala, and Medirigiriya in the Polonnaruwa
District and Horowpothana, Kebithigollewa, Galenbindunuwewa, Thirappane,
Kahatagasdigiliya, Nuwaragam Palatha Central, Wilachchiya, and
Thambuththegama in the Anuradhapura District.
The Governor has instructed immediate action through a strategic plan
incorporating short-term, mid-term, and long-term solutions. The
authorities have decided to set up five elephant corridors in the
Anuradhapura District at the Digampothana 5th Post,
Nachchaduwa-Mahakandarawa, Nachchaduwa-Wilpattu, and Puliyankulama as a
mid-term strategy. Steps will be taken to prevent encroachment on protected
areas, manage elephant habitats by growing grasslands, and rehabilitate
water tanks in conservation zones.
Short-term measures include forming HEC disaster mitigation committees at
village, divisional, district, and provincial levels. The authorities will
also work on identifying, capturing, and relocating isolated, problematic
male elephants as a priority measure.
Wanasinghe said that the responsibility of implementing these strategies
lies with the Wildlife, Forest, Irrigation, and Agrarian Development
Departments, the Divisional Secretariats and the Mahaweli Authority. Farmer
organisations are expected to play a crucial role in supporting these
efforts voluntarily.
https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2025/02/02/news/44200/five-elephant-corridors-to-check-growing-hec-in-apura/