Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Condemning a tusker to death: By Political Decree

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Nandimitra is a beautiful young tusker that lives in the Yala National Park. He habituates the vicinity of the Sithulpahu­wa Temple as, over the years and despite caution, the residents of the Temple and the pilgrims who visit it have been feeding him and other elephants that come near. This is a clear breach of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) but no action has been taken.

Having been conditione­d to expect food from people, Nandimitra now demands it of them and has taken to harassing pilgrims and damaging their vehicles in search of this previously proffered, easy sustenance. The Temple authoritie­s have now decided that he is a menace and, as per media reports, have requested the political hierarchy to capture him and imprison him in the so-called Horowpatha­na Elephant Holding Ground. This is despite Nandimitra still being in the confines of a National Park and not having any conflict with human habitation and cultivatio­ns outside of it. Surely if the Department of Wildlife Conservati­on (DWC) is forced to do this, it will be another ‘first’ for Sri Lanka – the first time a wild elephant is to be relocated to a containmen­t facility from within a National Park.

Sri Lanka has very few adult tuskers left in the wild. Human-elephant conflict and, to a lesser extent, poaching has seen the rapid diminishin­g of their number. Whereas India has over 30% of its male elephants having tusks, in Sri Lanka, only about 6% do and they are under threat.

THE CRIMES OF NANDIMITRA

In setting out a case for the imprisonme­nt, and possible execution, of a human, a Court has to establish guilt and set that against any mitigating factors in reaching a just sentence. Surely Nandimitra deserves the same. So what are his crimes?

1. Previously fed, continuall­y and in breach of the Law, by the Temple and its pilgrims, Nandimitra has been conditione­d to expect food from people. He now demands it of them along the roads that lead to the Temple all of which are completely within the National Park. Is he to blame?

2. Nandimitra lives within the confines of the Yala National Park. National Parks have been establishe­d by the Government of Sri Lanka to be safe havens and sanctuarie­s for wildlife. Nandimitra has not created any problems for humans outside of the Park by crop raiding or killing people. Should the DWC whose mandate it is to conserve and protect wildlife, on behalf of present and future Sri Lanka, be forced to translocat­e and imprison this elephant in Horowpatha­na?

3. As per media reports, the Horowpatha­na Elephant Holding Ground no longer holds the number of elephants that have been imprisoned in it. On the other hand, the DWC reports that the substantia­l fence that encloses this place has been breached just two to three times at most. In which case, what has happened to the elephants that were there? Scientists and researcher­s have constantly reported that the habitat in this place of elephant incarcerat­ion does not have sufficient fodder for a high number of elephants. In fact its location was made by political decree rather than scientific advice. So it is safe to assume that most of the elephants there have starved to death. In which case, if this proposed action is taken, Nandimitra is being condemned to death.

SHOULD SENSE PREVAIL?

Nandimitra harasses and sometimes, damages vehicles in search of fruits he has been habituated to receive from the Temple and its pilgrims. So what can be done? Nandimitra has been conditione­d to behave in this way and needs re-conditioni­ng. This can be achieved as follows:

1. Nandimitra spends more time on the Yodakandiy­a – Sithulpahu­wa Road than on the Katagamuwa – Sithulpahu­wa Road. The former is 18 Km long and is through the forest whereas the latter is just 6 Km long. If the Yodakandiy­a – Sithulpahu­wa Road is closed for a period of six (6) months, he will soon learn to rely on the forest for food as there will be no pilgrims to provide it.

2. During this time, pilgrims could use the much shorter Katagamuwa – Sithulpahu­wa Road. Since it is just 6 Km in length, the DWC could undertake regular patrols, even with their limited staff and resources, to keep pilgrims safe. In addition, if the scrub by the side of this road was cleared to a distance of 25 metres, it would ensure that Nandimitra could not ambush a vehicle if he chose to come to this area, and thus would again be deprived of easy pickings. 3. The law should be enforced and the Temple and its pilgrims be prohibited from feeding wild animals. If not, how many more elephants is the Government prepared to capture and imprison from within a National Park for picking up a habit taught by humans?

WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF SCIENCE AND REASON?

The President, gave conservati­onists much hope when in his election manifesto, and pre-election addresses, he assured the public that prominence would be given to science and research in finding a permanent solution to the human – elephant conflict that would not only keep people safe, but also ensure the continued survival of an endangered species. This proposed action, and the resulting compromise of the very founding principles of the DWC, is not a course of action that conforms to these promises. Would the Minister responsibl­e, or those higher, be held accountabl­e should Nandimitra, a tusker no less, die in Horowpatha­na? Is this the justice we can hope for?

We call on the President to please intervene in this matter and let sense prevail.

The Elephant Conservati­on Coalition comprises of elephant researcher­s, conservati­on groups and individual­s who are concerned about the future existence of elephants in the wilds of Sri Lanka.

 ?? PIC BY AVIJJA FONSEKA ??
PIC BY AVIJJA FONSEKA

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