The Department of Wildlife Conservation has stepped up action to erect electric elephant control fences in Kakirawa, Anuradhapura following instructions given to them by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
This is a sequel to the recently telecast “President answers citizens’ questions Live’ programme on television channels where people living in Kekirawa, during their turn to speak to the President, requested him to protect them and their cultivation from elephant attacks that occur in their villages.
Wildlife Department’s Elephant Conservation Deputy Director W S K Pathiratna yesterday said they have begun constructing a 15- kilometre long electric fence for villagers in Kekirawa with instructions received from the President to resolve the elephant -human conflict in Kekirawa without delay.
“It takes Rs 7 million to build the fence. It will prevent the elephants from entering the village from the Kalawawa forest reserve,” he said.
According to villagers in Kekirawa, wild elephants have made it a habit to raid their crops. The animals have killed three villagers during the past year, they said. “ We live in constant fear because of the situation,” they explained.
Pathiratna said the bad habits of villagers are also responsible for the situation.
“They have been advised not to wander off during dark hours carrying battery operated torches because the animals tend to run towards the light out of fear that they might be attacked, “ he explained.
“Their ancestors co-existed better with the elephants when they carried traditional Hulu Atta as their torches instead of battery operated torches,” he explained.
“They were hardly attacked by elephants in those days,” he said.
