Two-day survey on wild elephants to be conducted next month

The Department of Wildlife Conservation will conduct a two-day survey on wild elephants on September 13 and 14, the Department said in a press release today (Aug 13).

The survey is expected to record the ages of elephants and the population according to their gender, and the number of tuskers in the country, Wildlife Director General C. Sooriyabandara said.

More than 7000 wildlife officers are expected to conduct the survey across several areas including some 2000 habitats of wild elephants, the Wildlife Department said adding that the last survey had been conducted in 2011.

At that time, the population of wild elephants had been recorded at 5879.

Mr. Sooriyabandara pointed out that the 2011 survey had not taken place in certain areas since it had been primarily conducted in the vicinity of water reservoirs during the dry season.

However, he said that this year's survey will be conducted in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well.

University students, non-governmental organizations, and the general public who wish to be a part of this survey have been requested to contact the Wildlife Department on 011 - 2888 585.