Attidiya Bird Sanctuary

Once a safe haven for local and migratory birds, now a silent killer

Once a safe haven for large flocks of local and migratory birds when it was declared open almost two years ago, the Attidiya bird sanctuary has now been transformed into a silent still space with hardly any movement.

The dumping of garbage collected from the residential areas around the sanctuary coupled with the chemical waste released to the lake by commercial properties in the area has made the once vibrant bird sanctuary a silent killer to many species that call it home.

Alerted by residents in the area who complained of the stench emanating from the mounds of garbage dumped in the Lake, the Daily Mirror spoke to several local government officials regarding the situation on site only to find they were unaware of the dire situation at the sanctuary.

A large part of the 372 acre sanctuary is covered in forests and wetlands, the remainder is made up of canals and the lake. The sanctuary is home for 166 species of birds that have been witnessed so far, with most found in the sanctuary throughout the year and at least 40 migratory birds seen during different seasons. Environmentalists have also recorded the presence of 71 species of butterflies, 44 species of fish, crocodiles, rare fishing cats and even jackals.

It is learnt that the only source of water for the sanctuary and the heart of its existence is the Attidiya Lake which is connected to the Dehiwela Mount Lavinia municipality area with smaller canals connected towards Attidiya.

The Daily Mirror found that dumping of garbage and releasing industrial chemicals, petroleum substances and colouring agents to the lake has led to the destruction of the sanctuary and the extinction of many of its species. Officials said that many factories had released the substances to the lake undercover of rain. Residents also said that large quantities of oil like substances had been released to the lake during the previous monsoon. However, a large quantity of the oil like substance had remained in the vicinity, near the Attidiya Bridge, as there was insufficient rainfall to wash it away completely.

The pollution had killed a large number of fish in the Lake as well as residential birds in the area. The lack of food and water sources in the sanctuary has also led to a decrease in the number of migratory birds seen at the location.

Residents also said that a number of construction sites on the border of the lake often made sewage lines directly to the lake. The water which was once a pristine green was now turning black with the chemical waste and garbage accumulating in its depths.

PICS BY H. M. DHARMAPALA