Sunday, March 11, 2007

Sri Lanka grapples with elephant-human conflict

Tharuka Dissanaike, Down to Earth
March 9, 2007

Yala, January 25, 2007: Sri Lanka’s only known crossed-tusk elephant in the wild, known locally as Dalaputtuwa dies of paralysis caused by gunshot wounds in the periphery of a highly protected national park. The tusker, a rare sight in Sri Lankan jungles, was shot by 35-year old Punchi Banda Samarathunge as he stood guard over his war zone-bordering village on the outskirts of the National Park with a T-56 rifle.

The bullet hit the front leg of the elephant, who limped back to the jungle in pain and fear. It took another painful week before his death, by which time, the majestic male was totally paralysed neck down.

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Punchi Banda and his shotgun were taken into police custody, as the final hours of Dalaputtuwa became a matter of national mourning.

The elephant enjoys protected status and shooting one entails imprisonment and heavy fines. But in the remote jungle-bordering village sympathies lie clearly with Punchi Banda. For one, these villagers depend on ‘home guards’—a paramilitary force of ill-trained but armed men who are expected to protect villagers from possible terrorist attacks.

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