More than 10 illegal electric traps, allegedly wired directly to the main electricity supply, have been set up in the Welgala area of Ibbagamuwa, a conservation group has warned, saying they place wild elephants — among them the well-known elephant Rattha — at risk of electrocution.
The Society for Conservation of Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka (SCWESL) set out the allegation in a letter dated 2 November to the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Daily Mirror reported. It asked for immediate raids and legal action against those responsible.
The route the group says the elephant may take
The warning turns on where Rattha is expected to move next. The elephant is currently roaming the Moragollagama–Pothanegama area in Polpithigama and could head towards Welgala in the coming days, the organisation said — either via Mahadambe and Hakwatunawa, or by way of Dombagamuwa and Nelliya Kanda because of obstacles around the Hakwatunawa reservoir.
The traps, the group said, have been placed along natural elephant movement routes.
A risk to people as well
SCWESL argued that illegal connections drawn off the main supply are a danger to human life as well as to animals, and urged the Wildlife Department to work with other authorities to identify and arrest those responsible.
It also called for a dedicated protection programme mapping elephant movement routes and vulnerable areas, warning against waiting for another elephant to die before acting.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Environment Minister, the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police and the Commanding Officer of the Police Special Task Force.
Context
Electrocution is among the leading causes of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka. Department of Wildlife Conservation figures reported in April recorded 14 of 108 elephant deaths in the first four months of this year as electrocutions, behind only gunshot injuries. Two elephants, including a calf, were killed by an illegal electric fence at Maligawila in June.
The area named in the letter sits in the same North-Western wildlife zone where the army and the Wildlife Department are currently running the ‘Hasthi Sena’ operation, which seized more than 20 animal snares at the Jathika Namal Uyana reserve on Tuesday.
Not reported
The Daily Mirror notes that the allegations have not been independently verified, and that it is not clear whether authorities have inspected the reported traps or made any arrests. There is no response from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Ceylon Electricity Board or the police in the filing, and no indication of who is alleged to have set the traps or why. No other verified newsroom had carried the warning at the time of writing.