Environmentalists say they have received reports of one hundred elephant calves being held in captivity, illegally.
Environmentalist Pubudu Weeraratne says that certain persons are holding these calves captive using false documentation.He says that wildlife ffiocials have failed to enforce the law against individuals who are holding elephant calves captive, illegally.
Environmentalist, Pubudu Weeraratne expressed following views:
“We have observed that there are more than 100 elephant calves that have been captured from the wild and are being held captive using false documentation, all across the island. Another factor is that when these calves are seized it is discovered that their appearance does not match the photograph on the false registration documents. This is because a large number of the calves that have been taken captive in this fashion, have passed away, and they are using other elephants.”
Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation, H.D. Ratnayake also expressed views:
“We will enforce the law against such individuals. We have also received complaints of persons who are holding adult elephants captive, illegally. We have commenced extensive investigations. We have already seized a number of elephant calves that were being held captive illegally, and the trials of these cases are underway. At the same time we have commenced investigations into several suspicious cases.”
NEWSFIRST
Environmentalist Pubudu Weeraratne says that certain persons are holding these calves captive using false documentation.He says that wildlife ffiocials have failed to enforce the law against individuals who are holding elephant calves captive, illegally.
Environmentalist, Pubudu Weeraratne expressed following views:
“We have observed that there are more than 100 elephant calves that have been captured from the wild and are being held captive using false documentation, all across the island. Another factor is that when these calves are seized it is discovered that their appearance does not match the photograph on the false registration documents. This is because a large number of the calves that have been taken captive in this fashion, have passed away, and they are using other elephants.”
Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation, H.D. Ratnayake also expressed views:
“We will enforce the law against such individuals. We have also received complaints of persons who are holding adult elephants captive, illegally. We have commenced extensive investigations. We have already seized a number of elephant calves that were being held captive illegally, and the trials of these cases are underway. At the same time we have commenced investigations into several suspicious cases.”
NEWSFIRST
