Wild Elephant Population in Sri Lanka swell up to 7000

The Department of Wildlife states that the wild elephant population in Sri Lanka has now been increased upto 7000.

It had been reported earlier that the number of those animals in the Island had been around 5600.

The Department of Wildlife at a discussion with the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera revealed that the wild elephant population in this country has exceeded 7000 according to a recent survey finding.

However, it has been reported that the number of Tuskers in Sri Lanka has decreased. According to the Dept. of Wildlife there are only 142 Tusker within the forest in Sri Lanka.

The Media had reported recently that whereabouts of nearly 350 wild elephants roaming in and around Minneriya, Giritale and Parakrama Samudra areas were not known. The Minister enquired the truth of this news report from the Department of Wildlife.

Officials of the Department of Wildlife emphasized that a large number of wild elephants roaming in those areas emigrated to other areas in search of food as Giritale, Minneriya, Parakrama Samudra and Welipitiya were filled with water throughout this year.

Due to the emigration of wild elephants in this manner, the damages caused to the people in those areas have been increased.