CSD provides over 100,000 citrus saplings to mitigate human elephant conflict in Wellawaya
July 09, 2020The Civil Security Department (CSD) initiating a new conception to mitigate the human elephant conflict in the affected areas, distributed over 100,000 citrus saplings among the staff members living in Handapanagala to be planted along elephant corridors recently.
The project was initiated under the directives of the CSD Director General Rear Admiral (Retd) Ananda Peiris.
“CSD is now nurturing citrus nurseries as a long term solution for the long existed issue and the planting process would commence in large scale onset of the rainy season,” said Rear Admiral Peiris.
Rear Admiral Peiris, introducing this as a pilot project further said, citrus trees are one of the best solutions to thwart elephant invasions into the rural villages as they consciously avoid citrus bushes full of painful sharp thorns.
Lt. Col. Kumara Jagoda, CSD Commanding Officer of Monaragla who is steering this novel project in Handapanagala, one of the most vulnerable human habitations for elephant raids in the region said, “We will introduce this project as a permanent solution to all the prone areas near future”.
According to the Elephant Conservation Unit (ECU) of the Wildlife Conservation Department, between 250 to 300 elephant deaths and 100 to 125 human deaths are reported annually in the island due to their struggle.
ECU sources have identified, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala and Wellawaya as the mostly threatened areas by the wild elephants.