Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne says nearly 30% of elephants in Sri Lanka have suffered hearing impairment due to several factors, including the use of low-quality “elephant crackers.”
The Deputy Minister made the remarks at a ceremony to hand over motorcycles to wildlife officers, where he discussed the growing human-wildlife conflict involving elephants, toque macaques, wild boars, porcupines, and giant squirrels.
He said that in some areas, the conflict between humans and toque macaques has become more severe than the human-elephant conflict.
Karunaratne also noted that human-wildlife conflicts are having a significant impact on the country’s agricultural production, with crops being destroyed by wild animals.
He further highlighted the harm caused to wildlife through shooting and other human activities, saying that many animals suffer injuries and carry lead pellets from firearms in their bodies.
According to the Deputy Minister, the loud explosions produced by “elephant crackers” can damage the auditory systems of elephants, including calves, with some animals eventually losing their hearing completely.
He identified the availability of food and water in villages, compared with their scarcity in forest areas, as a major reason for wild animals entering human settlements.
Karunaratne stressed the need to ensure adequate food and water within forest ecosystems as part of efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
