News
Bone Island set afire
View(s):Bone Island is a tiny island in Batticaloa covering an area of around 5 acres. It is not connected to the mainland and is only accessible by boat. A.J. Bone, who was an Assistant Government Agent in Batticaloa from 1833-1837, built a small holiday bungalow on the island and it has been known as Bone Island ever since.
Story and pix by Deva Athiran
The island is famous in Batticaloa as a location where hundreds of local and migratory birds descend in December to lay eggs. Many avid birdwatchers visit the area during this time to catch a glimpse of these birds.
However, a group of unknown persons had set fire to part of the island last Tuesday (12).
Fortunately, persons in the vicinity who saw the fire immediately rushed in and doused the flames before it engulfed the entire islet.
Unfortunately, numbers of birds died and a significant number of eggs were destroyed in the blaze.
Residents said in 2016, a person attempting to set fire to the undergrowth on the island was caught and handed over to police.
They urge authorities to take action to ensure that the island, which has been a haven for birds for years, is protected.
This wild duck was lucky to escape with its life
Sad... who burned these innocents in their shell
Residents who noticed the flames rushed in and prevented a disaster
A burnt nest and eggs
Man’s greed for land caused this disaster
A large number of nests and eggs were lost to this man-made disaster
The beautiful ‘Bone Island’