Ban lifted on morning safaris at Wilpattu
View(s):Sri Lankan authorities have reversed a ban on morning safaris at Wilpattu National Park, which had been earlier enforced owing to an ongoing drought.
The decision to reverse the ban came during discussions the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) had with Minister of Tourism, the association said in a media release earlier this week on Monday.
“The outcome is a favourable one for all stakeholders wherein morning safaris will now be permitted into the national park. This informed decision reached through consensus by all stakeholders reflects an ideal collaboration between the public and private sector bodies for a beneficial solution for the sector and the economy,” it said on Monday.
Before arriving at this decision the Department of Wildlife appointed a specialist team and invited representatives from SLAITO and the Tourism department on the team to assess the water availability situation in the park. This inclusive initiative by the Department of Wildlife, the association said, was hailed by all concerned. Considering that the park still retains 40-50 per cent of its water source, the team recommended the re-opening of the park for morning safaris, so that animals in the park would not be inconvenienced for the rest of the day.
“We are deeply grateful to the Tourism Ministry and Minister of Tourism, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife for this decision. We are wholly supportive of their concern for ensuring sustainability of the national park and its flora and fauna. The decision to permit only morning safaris has halted an adverse impact on hundreds of pre booked tours to the national park and has also avoided a negative perception amongst tourists. While thanking the officials, we reaffirm our support to their concern about the impact of drought on the residents of the park and we are supporting the cause to our fullest extent by donating two water pumps to the Wilapttu NP this week in order to assist with irrigating the ponds in the park,” explained Nishad Wijetunga from SLAITO.
Over time, as the situation improves, the park could be opened for evening safaris as well. About 3000 visitors were expected to travel to Wilpattu in August alone, industry authorities stated.