More measures to prevent elephant encroachment

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Wildlife Conservation says that it has taken steps to build a second barrier to the existing electric fence in areas where human-elephant conflict is common.

The Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Chandana Sooriyabandara stated that this step was taken in view of the results of several studies conducted in this regard.

Accordingly, in addition to the existing electric fence, one of the alternative methods from digging trenches, installing a hanging electric fence or installing a bio-fence will be implemented, he said.

According to the Director General of Wildlife, a number of recent studies have shown that the construction of a second barrier will help control wild elephant encroachment into villages.

The construction of a second barrier in addition to the 300 km electric fence in the identified areas has already commenced.

The Department of Wildlife added  that 4,500 km of electric fences have already been installed and another 1,500 km of new fences will be installed next year.