He died in the park he brought alive

Warden Wasantha Pushpananda, who was among those brutally shot dead at Wilpattu park on March 9, worked tirelessly for its upkeep

Wasantha Pushpananda, the late warden of Wilpattu National park was not just a government official discharging his duties, but to everyone who had the good fortune to make his acquaintance he was a friend. He was a great friend not only to those who visited the park but more importantly he was a friend of the Wilpattu National Park. His untiring efforts resulted in this most beautiful of Sri Lanka’s wildlife parks regaining its glory, even if only for a short period of four years.

I still recall the day nearly four years ago when a colleague and I returning from a photographic trip to Mannar turned into Preshamel Rest for lunch and first saw the lean figure of Pushpananda who excitedly approached our vehicle and greeted us as if we were his best friends. The next question was a predictable “park ekata yannada”. This was before the park was officially opened but when many enthusiasts used to drive to Maradanmaduwa just to satisfy the yearning to be inside the park.

The official opening of the park in early 2003 was possible entirely due to the untiring efforts of warden Wasantha Pushpananda. His only objective was to restore Wilpattu to the glory it once enjoyed and what he achieved in a short period of time was remarkable. During our early visits there were no animals to be seen and even if we saw a lone deer or jungle fowl they disappeared fast. However, over a period of about a year the leopard sightings increased significantly and under the guidance of Pushpananda the park showed signs of healing from the terrible wounds inflicted by terrorists and poachers.

More than 75% of the road network was re-opened using manual labour and four bungalows were restored by private individuals and organizations because they loved the park so much and also because a warden of the calibre of Pushpananda was at the helm. Pushpananda or “Pushpe” to all his friends, resurrected Wilpattu National Park with limited resources. The lack of funds and government red tape never stood in his way. He enlisted support from youth in the surrounding villages to clear the many roads that had become overgrown over the years. He established a wide network of friends willing to support him and used their contributions to uplift the park.

Many are the occasions on which I have seen his beat-up two wheel drive double cab parked on the side of the road and the warden himself busily clearing the undergrowth alongside the casual labourers entrusted with the task. On numerous occasions I have met him whizzing around the park with his old double cab piled high with labourers and their equipment as he personally ensured that the designated number of hectares was cleared during the day. He never complained that he did not have a new vehicle to get around the park but used whatever means he had to achieve what he wanted for the park. You could not fault him for driving fast because momentum was the only way to get across sandy terrain like Kali Villu or the road to Talawila bungalow in a two wheel drive vehicle. During the day Pushpe sat at his desk only briefly and that too very hurriedly because he was so anxious to visit the park every single day.

Pushpe was always in a mighty hurry whether he talked, walked or steered his creaky vehicle. To many of us private sector executives a call from the Wilpattu office meant it was Pushpe and no matter how important the meeting or what time of day it was we always took the call. The typical call from Pushpe lasted only a couple of minutes. After the initial greeting Pushpe would give a concise update on leopard tracks seen on some road or a kill stashed away on some branch and demanded that we come immediately to witness what his beautiful park offered.

The second half of the call would enlighten us on his plans for park improvement such as building toilets for the rangers, opening a new road or getting barrels of water to be placed at water holes for the animals to drink and his wish that we support him. The short call would end with “Kavadada enne, adha enna” and the line would go dead. Lots of people extended their hand to him because we knew that he was sincere in his purpose and whatever contribution we gave he used it to uplift the park. He would make it a point to show us the work he had done with the funds we gave.

The tragic events at Wilpattu which claimed the lives of Wasantha Pushpananda and many others have taken away one of the most respected and loved wardens in recent memory. Dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and integrity were the characteristics of this simple man to whom nothing mattered more than the wellbeing of his beloved park. He did not care about where he lived or what vehicle he drove. All he cared was about the park and his staff.

It was he who made the Wilpattu National Park come alive again and it is sad that he himself fell silent on the plains of Kokkari Villu that tragic day. With him the park too has fallen silent from the whispers of the many happy visitors relishing the beauty of this little corner in paradise. I hope the day will soon dawn when we can retrace his steps and restore the park to what he wanted it to be.