Govt. likely to limit safari jeeps entering national wildlife parks 

• Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C.B. Rathnayake stresses animal cruelty not tolerated 
• Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga fears sustainable image of SL will be tarnished due to adverse international spotlight 

Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C.B. Rathnayake yesterday said measures will be taken to limit safari jeeps entering national wild parks.

Noting that he had ordered an investigation into the incident at the Yala National Park this week involving a tusker and safari jeeps, the Minister said the delay to take action might result in limiting safari jeeps.

“Animal cruelty is not tolerated at any cost. If safari jeep operators do not understand that these wild animals are the very reason of their livelihood, then it is time they realise the repercussions with tough measures,” Minister Rathnayake told the Daily FT. 

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga also expressed concerns on recent incidents of animal cruelty, adding that it will have major impact on the sustainable tourism image if the destination.

“Nature is the most valuable assets and integral part of tourism industry. We are concerned with the kind of adverse international spotlight Sri Lanka had been getting in the recent times,” he told the Daily FT.

Minister Ranatunga also noted that most foreign tourists are boycotting Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage as of late.

Hollywood star and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio yesterday highlighted the tragic plight of wild elephants in Sri Lanka as a result of an open landfill in Pallakkadu village in Ampara district.

The Oscar-winning actor tweeted a news report by the Associated Press, which claimed that two more elephants were found dead over the weekend after ‘consuming plastic trash’ in the Eastern Province.

Earlier this month, US singer Cher slammed the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage via a tweet, claiming the officer was only interested in making dollars whilst traumatising the animals.

The reaction came after a video of the new-born elephant twin, the mother and another member of the herd entered the river for the first time, guided by herders to a running commentary.