Sri Lanka's Historic Wildlife Census: A New Dawn for Crop Protection

Sri Lanka is set to launch its first-ever animal census this Saturday, excluding elephants. Aimed at understanding human-wildlife conflicts and assessing crop damage, the initiative will involve 40,000 state officials. The census data will be critical in implementing strategies to minimize crop losses and safeguard wildlife.

Sri Lanka is gearing up for its inaugural animal census this Saturday, targeting species like Toque monkeys, purple-faced langurs, giant squirrels, and peacocks. This effort is part of a broader initiative to assess human-wildlife conflicts and annual crop damage across the island nation.

The government expects the participation of 40,000 state officials across more than 14,200 administrative units for the census, which will take place between 8 and 8:05 a.m. local time. GVV Shamini, Additional Director for Development at the Department of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of public involvement in this critical exercise.

Data garnered from the census will be indispensable for understanding the staggering estimated loss of SLR 30 billion due to crop damage, as highlighted by J. Pushpakumara, Director of the Ministry of Agriculture. Despite skepticism from some farmer organizations, officials anticipate an 80 percent accuracy rate, underscoring the effort's significance for strategic planning and wildlife management.

(With inputs from agencies.)