Kumana: Where the Sambur was killed

The Kumana wildlife park which was reopened recently after a closure of almost a year is now facing a threat from poachers and hunters, wildlife enthusiasts to the park say.

They say there are signs of animals being slaughtered. Only two wildlife officers and four labourers oversee this park of 18,000 hectares. The park which was closed to visitors in 1985 due to the threat from the LTTE, was opened in 2003 and remained so till August 2006, when again the park was closed down after an STF bowser was caught in a mine explosion. It was reopened in August this year.

This picture of a carcase of a majestic Sambur slain this week close to the Kumana wewa, was captured by our Kumana correspondent.