The man versus elephant confrontation is a much bigger problem in the Moneragala district than elsewhere.
The proximity of the Yala and Udawalawe sanctuaries which are the animal kingdoms has created more problems here than elsewhere as the villagers are easy prey.
Buttala, Wellawaya, Tanamalwila, Siyambalanduwa and Sevanagala are some of the villages where the problem is at its worst. The animals who were confined to their wild habitat prior to 1975 have now found it easy to stray into villages which have come up with rapid development.
People settling down in villages after 1986 were targets specially in areas where cane cultivation was started.
An area as large as 5000 hectares from which the Pelawatta sugar industry gets its raw material became the happy hunting grounds for the roaming elephants. As bulldozers flattened areas in Pelawatta for cane cultivation, the animals made these areas their home.
Due to new villages coming up bordering some sanctuary areas, the man versus elephant battle began.
By 1991 the villagers of Sevanagala, Udawalawe and adjacent areas joined hands with officials of the Wild Life Department to keep the wild elephants away with little result and by 1996 the elephants roamed into villages and destroyed the cultivation of the villagers till the Sugar Company authorities launched a program to chase the wild elephants away into the Lunugamvehera sanctuary area. Even the construction of an electrified fence did not deter the animals from straying into human habitats.
The harm done to life and property and cultivation by the straying elephants was immense but the differences of opinion between politicians and Wild Life officials made the issue worse.
Many affected villagers who made comments were critical of the officials handling the issue. They accused the officials of lethargy in dealing with the issue. Many others blamed politicians who interfered in the matter thus not helping to solve the issue. |
E-mail