News
Disruption of elephant corridors causes tragedies
View(s):By Hafsa Sabry
The recent drowning of seven elephants in the Polonnaruwa area has sparked serious concerns among environmentalists and villagers.
Among the dead elephants were two between 15 and 25 years of age, four who were about four years old, and one who was about one year old, a wildlife official said. They were attempting to cross the Ode Ela, a waterway in the area from the Flood Plains National Park to the Somawathiya National Park, in search of food and shelter.
In 2019, seven elephants were found dead in the north-central region. Similarly, in 2018, seven elephants drowned near the area where the recent deaths were reported.
Elephants residing in the flood-prone national park had ventured towards Somawathiya National Park in search of sustenance and refuge, driven by the inundation of their habitat as a result of monsoon rains.
U.L. Thowfeek, Deputy Director of Elephant Conservation at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), said the mud in the canal softens during the dry season, but when it rains, it becomes muddy. “They became trapped under the mud at the bottom of the canal,” he said.
Mr. Thowfeek said that following the incident, DWC field officers were told to intensify monitoring of elephant crossings, particularly during the dry season and heavy rains. Patrols are to be carried out once or twice a week. However, with more than 800 elephants in the Polonnaruwa District alone, he acknowledged the difficulty of monitoring.
The DWC’s wildlife health director, Dr. Tharaka Prasath, classified the incident as a natural disaster, stating that the department was trying to be vigilant. Following postmortems, he said the elephants found dead in the Handapanwila area in the Polonnaruwa wildlife reserve had died due to drowning.
He said there was no human habitation in the area where the elephants drowned.
“There is no human activity in the area; it is isolated and a naturally formed wetland; it is not due to any human intervention.’’
However, Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam, the national coordinator of the Centre for Environment and Nature Studies, said that according to the Flora and Fauna Act, wildlife is protected, and any harm inflicted upon them by humans can lead to arrest and legal charges. Therefore, he urged the department to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The elephants must be protected. The government should act to prevent a recurrence, especially considering that this is already the third incident.”
He explained that floods often occurre in Minneriya, Aralaganwila, and Dehikurangoda areas of Polonnaruwa as the natural cascade designed to mitigate flooding had been obstructed due to development.
He also said elephants had used an ancient trail, but development projects had encroached upon it and disrupted their traditional paths. As a result, when floods occurred, the elephants found themselves stranded and unable to navigate their customary routes, he said.
“The government must prioritise the preservation of natural elephant corridors when undertaking any development projects to minimise the impact on their population and habitat. These corridors play a crucial role in the elephant migration patterns and must be safeguarded to ensure their survival,’’ he said.
Additionally, villagers have raised concerns about the overgrowth of moss in elephant corridors in the area. They want the DWC to remove the moss and restore these vital pathways.
The accumulation of moss and water has created treacherous conditions, causing elephants to sink and drown. The elephants, unable to distinguish between the road and the river canal, walk into these dangerous areas and drown.
“The water hyacinth and overgrown moss must be removed to prevent such tragic deaths and to save these majestic animals,’’ a villager said.
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