Spotlight on Wildlife in 2021

The X-Press Pearl inferno is said to be the biggest maritime and environmental disaster that happened in 2021, claiming the lives of over 200 marine animals and causing a major long-term impact on Sri Lanka’s marine environment. 10 months later, authorities are yet to claim compensation for the damage as assessments and  policy decisions are said to  have stood in the way of this process. Apart from that, official statistics reveal that over 150 elephants have died in 2021 mainly due to the human-elephant conflict. The haphazard clearance of forests, emergence of mini hydro power projects, threats to freshwater fishes as a result of sand mining activities are several other concerns. At the rural level, more wildlife crimes are being reported as people tend to violate the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance (FFPO), thereby engaging in poaching and illegal trade of bushmeat, ivory etc. 

April – Two suspects arrested for illegally capturing endemic birds and their young near the Sinharaja forest. Following investigations more protected and strictly protected bird species were found in their possession. Suspects were later produced in the Embilipitiya Magistrate Court.
Two suspects arrested for plucking Syzygium rotundifolium, an endemic floral species at the Haggala Forest Reserve. The suspects were later produced in the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate court.

May – Suspect arrested for killing a spotted deer at the Wilpattu National Park’s buffer zone. Wildlife officials at the National Park have later produced him in courts. 
Suspect arrested for killing and transporting a pregnant spotted deer near Udawalawa National Park.

June – Three suspects arrested for killing a leopard in Hewaheta, Nallathanniya and were charged with a fine of Rs. 100,000 each after being produced in Walapane Magistrate Court. 
Two suspects arrested for carrying out illegal poaching activities at Maduru Oya National Park. Several weapons, 35 kg of bushmeat, skin of a spotted deer were found in their possession. Suspects were later produced in courts. 

Wildlife crimes reported following raids and patrols carried out by respective wildlife range offices for 2021 are as follows :

January – Two suspects arrested with illegally obtained turtle eggs in Mirissa. The patrolling was carried out by Mirissa wildlife range officers.
Suspect arrested for plucking 60 Rath Dothalu (Loxococcus rupicola) plants in the Samanala Range. The Ratnapura Magistrate court has ordered wildlife officials to replant these plants in a suitable environment. 
Four suspects arrested with leopard teeth in Rajammana, Matale. They were later produced to the Matale Magistrate Court and further investigations are being carried out.

February – Suspect arrested for plucking Vanda tessellata, a wild orchid species that is protected under the FFPO. It was later revealed that this group has sold these plants in various places in Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala. 
Suspect arrested with two tusks in Kilinochchi. It was revealed that each was priced at a value of Rs. 500,000. The suspect was produced to the Vavuniya Magistrate court.

March – Timber racket raided at Maduru Oya National Park and a suspect was arrested for carrying out this operation. Several teak trees were felled this way and the suspect was produced in the Dehiaththakandiya Magistrate court.

July - Suspect caught with 11 Rose Parakeets in his possession in Balangoda. Wildlife officers later produced him in the Balangoda Magistrate court and was charged. The parakeets were later released to the Samanala forest reserve.

August – Suspects arrested with weapons and explosives at Wasgamuwa National Park. 
Suspect arrested with several endemic birds in his possession at Gampola.
Four suspects arrested following an illegal sand mining operation at the Mahaweli River, near the Alanchipathana Villu at Flood Plains National Park. The raid was conducted by the Welikanda wildlife range officers and suspects were later produced in Manampitiya Magistrate court.
12 suspects arrested following an illegal gem mining operation at Yala National Park (Block III). The suspects were produced in the Wellawaya Magistrate Court and were charged with a fine of Rs. 460,000.

September – Suspect arrested at Thabbowa Sanctuary with trap guns and a rifle in his possession. Officials at the Karuwalagaswewa Wildlife Office thereafter produced the suspect in Puttalam Magistrate court.
A dried sambur deer meat racket was exposed in Rajanganaya Yaya 18. The raid was done by wildlife range officers at Kala Oya where they found dried sambur deer meat inside a house. A suspect who has been carrying out a subtle poaching operation was arrested following the raid and was later produced in courts. 
A leopard caught to a snare was rescued by wildlife range officers and the veterinary unit in Kilinochchi. The incident had happened inside the Kokavil forest reserve and the leopard was eventually rescued following a five-hour operation. 
Five suspects arrested with timber at the Thabbowa Sanctuary. Wildlife range officers in Karuwalagaswewa later produced the suspects in Puttalam Magistrate Court. 
Four suspects arrested for attempting to pluck Bin Kohomba or Ground Neem which is said to be an important medicinal plant. The suspects were arrested at the Randenigala-Rantambe sanctuary by wildlife officers at the Keerthibandarapura Range Office. 
Elephant found dead near Pallenkandal at the Wilpattu National Park. Post mortem reports revealed the presence of poison in samples. Further investigations are being carried out. 
Suspect caught with an illegally killed wild boar in Pussellawa. Investigations revealed that the suspect had used ‘Hakka patas’ or jaw bombs to kill the animal. The raid was done by wildlife range officers in Haggala and the Special Task Force division at the Nuwara Eliya Police. 
Suspect caught with illegal bushmeat in his possession along with a locally manufactured rifle in Kalthota bordering the Udawalawa National Park. 
Five suspects arrested for attempted poaching at the Randenigala-Rantambe sanctuary. Wildlife range officers at Keerthibandarapura have also discovered weapons and explosives in their possession. The suspects were produced in the Walapane Magistrate court. 
Suspect arrested with raw and cooked meat of a barking deer in Naula. The joint raid was carried out by Matale and Rajammana wildlife range officers. The suspect was later produced in Naula Magistrate court. 

November – Suspect arrested at Wathu Yaya, Dambana for killing a sambur deer. The raid was done by officials at the Maduru Oya National Park. Following the tip off, the suspect and items in his possession including wild boar meat were produced in courts. 
Several suspects arrested for carrying out an illegal moonshine operation at Nayaru Reserve which is part of the Mullaitivu Nature Reserve. The FFPO prohibits people from entering a sanctuary, National Park, forest reserve without permission. The raid was carried out by wildlife range officers in Mullaitivu and Weli Oya Wildlife beat officers and suspects were later produced in Mullaitivu Magistrate court. 

December – Two suspects arrested for killing a sambur deer in Randeniya, Wellawaya. A raid was done following a tip off received by the Wellawaya Wildlife Range Office. The sambur deer is a protected species under the FFPO. The officials have also found deer meat in their possession and subsequently the suspects have been produced in the Wellawaya Magistrate Court. Further investigations are underway.

Images – DWC