Cabinet approves funds to minimise human -elephant conflict

• State Minister says Govt. to consider alternatives to electric fences but will repair them in the meantime

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to repair and maintain prevailing electric fences as a move to minimise human-elephant conflicts.

The proposal was made by the Environment and Wildlife Resources Minister S.M Chandrasena to prevent elephants entering into human habitat and destroying crops. The Cabinet approved allocating funds to human resources to improve the condition of the prevailing electric fences.

The Government expects to implement the proposed program with the assistance of District Secretaries.

Meanwhile, Wildlife Sate Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake told Daily FT the Government was considering implementing natural ways to stop elephants entering farmlands. “Beekeeping and growing Bougainvillea are good ways to prevent elephants entering farmlands. These are more natural ways to keep elephants away from human activities.”

He pointed out that the Government is looking for ways to protect crops from elephants and minimise human-elephant conflict.

Wildlife Conservation Department said 350 elephants were killed in this year, six of them as a result of colliding with trains.