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Wild creatures that wreck crops scrutinised
Crop damage being caused by wild creatures, including some deemed to be ‘national animals’, is to be estimated in the wake of complaints by farmers.
The secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resource Conservation R.M.C.M Herath who is also a member of a committee that has been appointed said Govi Jana Seva officials have been told to gather information.
The minister in charge of agriculture and wildlife has named the committee because farmers have complained that Macaques, Langurs, Giant Squirrels (Dandu Lena), wild boars, and peacocks have become a nuisance. The panel has been told to give a report in a month.
She said that the Giant Squirrel, which is also the national animal, is among creatures that farmers regard as a nuisance.
“Our priority is to identify, calculate and analyse crop damage by animals and find solutions. It is not up to us to change the national animal of the country. If we find that the damage caused by it is high, then we take action accordingly, and see why, when and how it was named national animal,” Ms Herath said.
However, a member of the National Biodiversity Experts Committee, Mr Samantha Gunasekara said so far they have not been consulted to review whether the Giant Squirrel is the national animal.
He said he has not seen any Gazette or document declaring that the indigenous Giant Squirrel which is also found in other Asian countries is designated as the national animal. He explained that three subspecies of the Giant Squirrel are also found in Sri Lanka.
Even though the jungle fowl is endemic, the national tree Mesua Ferrea is an indigenous tree, which is also found in India.
The Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mr Mahinda Amaraweera said that a committee made up of wildlife and agriculture ministry secretaries and directors general were asked to identify the crop damage caused by animals.
He said it was also understood that the Giant Squirrel is the national animal and the committee was also asked to find out why a non-endemic animal was so designated.
The director general of the Agriculture Department, Dr S.H.S.A De Silva told the Sunday Times that the Giant Squirrel is among animals including porcupines, Macaques, Langurs, wild boar and peacocks, that harm crops.
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