News
Wildlife Dept. probing cases of animals held sans permits
View(s):The Wildlife Department has opened investigations into cases where animals have been held illegally without permits from the Department.
Following a complaint received by the Department, officials visited a location in Ambalangoda on Monday to inspect documents relating to an elephant allegedly held by MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena.
A Wildlife Department officer who visited the place on Monday said the animal was inspected but the documents were not available for perusal.Though the animal should have been taken into custody after informing a magistrate or the animal placed under guard of at least two Wildlife officials and a veterinary surgeon, those involved in the inspection had left and returned the following day.
Hikkaduwa Park warden Asanka Gunawardena said he had the authority to take the elephant into custody but it was too late to take the animal to courts, as the twelve officials present along with the veterinarian could not tackle the elephant without tranquilising it.
On the following day a set of documents was shown to the Wildlife officials. The elephant had been purchased from a monk for a million rupees.
An official said at first glance the permit appeared to be valid, but there were certain discrepancies in the documents produced and the Wildlife Department would have to take a decision. The discrepancies related to the previous records of the animal, including details of the mother-elephant and the pedigree of the animal.
Meanwhile Wildlife Department sources told the Sunday Times learns that a deer from President’s House has been relocated to the Horagolla National Park. The young fawn about a year old was found when Wildlife officers inspected the premises.
The sources also said that the fawn was very healthy and tame but was hesitating to eat grass.
Meanwhile the Department had received complaints that there were two elephant calves at Temple Trees.
Wildlife Director General H.D.Ratnayake was not available for comment.
Previous incomplete audit queries about animals held without valid permits are to be probed.
The Auditor General in a recent report said there were too many contradictions in the explanations given by the Wildlife Department officials to his queries.
There is controversy over the documents of some elephant owners including that of Ajith Gallage who was one of the owners checked by the Audit Department.
The Auditor General had sent a letter to the Wildlife Director General pointing out that the background of the photos of the elephant calf taken in 2008 at the previous owner’s place and at the new owner’s place in 2012 were similar. It said that the description of the animal such as the height too had not changed.
The Sunday Times learns that there was another audit inquiry about the approval of four elephant licences by forging signatures of Wildlife Director General Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja.
Mr. Pathiraja told the Sunday Times that he found his signature was used in an ownership document. He said the document was not signed by him and had sent a letter in this connection to former Wildlife Minister Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa.