News
POISONED
Officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWC) Hambantota recently uncovered a racket taking place within the precincts of forest reserves and jungles in the Mahaweli basin in the Hambantota district.
A DWC officer collects samples of water from a poisoned water hole
The method used by poachers is to poison small waterholes and/or actually dig waterholes which they poison.
Several suspects have already been arrested. On Thursday (14), two suspects were apprehended by officers of the Hambantota DWC within a section of Mahaweli forest at the 4th Mile Post in Gonnoruwa.
According to DWC officers the demand for ‘wild meat’ at this time reaches its peak due to the demand arising from the large numbers of pilgrims and tourists who flock to the area for the annual Kataragama pilgrimage.
The indiscriminate method of killing by poison used by poachers poses a major threat to health and lives of pilgrims/tourists who consume the contaminated delicacy.
Many animals including deer, buffalo, monkeys and various species of birds have fallen victim to this indiscriminate form of killing after consuming water from the poisoned water-traps set by poachers.
As such, wildlife officers are urging members of the public to refrain from consuming wild meat.
Raids to arrest more suspects involved in the racket are ongoing.
One of the many victims of the poisoned water traps laid by poachers
A poisoned monkey lies dead atop a tree
Poachers remove the stomach contents of a poisoned deer prior to selling the flesh to gullible consumers
A sample of poisoned water and knives taken from poachers