Threats of wild elephants are increasing in Sri Lanka and the Wildlife Conservation Department is accused of doing nothing to deal with the situation.

Sri Lanka News

“Plans are afoot to erect electric fences surrounding the forests where elephants roam frequently considering the safety of villages while establishing a typical environment to elephants, North Western Province Wild Life Director Manjula Amararatne said. ” – Sri Lanka News

“Now, when not eating or locked in combat, elephants spend a great deal of time pooping — a single elephant will excrete 400 to 450 pounds of dung per day. Hoping to ease the farmer-elephant conflict, Mr. Ellie Pooh, a U.S.-based eco-business, along with Maximus, a Sri Lankan paper producer, are trying to persuade Sri Lankan farmers to see the elephant as a sustainable profit maker rather than crop taker. Enter “pachyderm paper.” (Oddly, this isn’t my first dung-into-dollars sort of post. . .) ” – Plenty Magazine

“Brooklyn, NY company Mr. Ellie Pooh, which sells 100 percent handmade journals, stationery, office supplies and various grades of paper made partially from Sri Lankan elephant dung, is the Co-op America’s 2008 Green Business Leader Award winner. ” – CSRWire

“A group of wild elephants who escaped from the Randenigala reserve forest have destroyed a large number of crops in the adjoining villages of Kandaketiya, Kirivehera area last week, terrorising the local people in the area. ” – Daily Mirror Online

Technorati Profile

“The Department of Wildlife has now decided to pay compensation to all people who are victims of wild elephant attacks. ” – Sri Lanka News

“At least two people and an elephant have died in the human-elephant conflict prevalent in SriLanka’s rural north central and eastern areas, police said Tuesday. ” – China View

“Reports of a possible baby elephant abduction racket had been in the air for quite some time. It is believed that baby elephants are isolated from their herds and then stealthily transferred to different locations. The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC)�s Flying Squad had been investigating this for a long time when they received a tip about the elephant held on a private estate.” – The Sunday Times

“Jayawardena said that the elephants in Sri Lanka are highly threatened in spite of what anyone may say to the contrary. Explaining the reasons for the Human – Elephant conflict that have developed in the country and the efforts that are being made to mitigate these conflicts, he said that clearing forests to settle human beings is one of the main reasons.” – Sri Lanka News

“Nearly 100 caparisoned elephants, dancers and torchbearers walked down the streets of this central city decorated with colourful lights and flags as the annual Buddhist festival of Kandy Perahera (pageant) was celebrated with great enthusiasm. The colourful parade began Saturday night from the sacred Buddhist shrine of Dalada Maligawa, showcasing the temple custodians known as Nilames, who were dressed up like ancient kings. The festivities also included traditional Kandyan dancers, fire-juggling acrobats, palanquins, musicians and torchbearers, who followed the elephants through the streets.” – Thaindian News/a>

“The Flying Squad of the Wild Life Conservation Department yesterday arrested two suspects who have illegally adopted a baby elephant in Athurugiriya. ” – Sri Lanka News

“Blackpool Zoo’s big attractions Kate and Crumple were given a good hose down and brush up for their 39th birthday celebrations.” – Sri Lanka News

“Sri Lanka has been rescuing orphaned baby elephants for more than 35 years with state help, and the transit home is part of a drive to save the island’s endangered elephant species.” – AFP

“Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population has shown a marked increase over the last 10 years. ” – Daily News

“As hundreds watched in silence, Sri Lankan mahouts shed tears as eight orphaned baby elephants they had raised for four years were released into the wild.” – The Asian Pacific Post

“If all that Sri Lanka has to offer, from the appealing city of Colombo to the ancient town of Galle, the Pinnawela orphanage, along the Maha Oya river enroute to the ancient royal residence of Kandy, stands out for its concept.
” – newindpress

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this Introductory Seminar on Conserving the Wild Elephants of Sri Lanka. As you may be aware, this seminar is a prelude to an exciting event this Saturday which will see the release of a number of rehabilitated young elephants to the wild in Uda Walawe. This process of rehabilitation has taken some years. If you have read the introductory piece on each of the elephants, you will notice that some of them had been saved in the nick of time. ” – Lanka Mission

“Sri Lanka on Saturday released eight orphaned baby elephants into the jungle after rescuing them from near certain death, wildlife officials said.” – AFP