Sri Lanka: veterinarians on strike to protect elephants

Sri Lankan veterinarians have launched a strike to protest inadequacies in elephant protection, as deadly conflicts between locals and pachyderms escalate, a union official said on Tuesday.

“There is not a good management of the wild elephants which are relegated to increasingly limited spaces because the government allows the inhabitants to encroach on their areas of traditional habitat”, declared Vijitha Perera, secretary of the union. veterinarians.

The strike, which began on Monday and is scheduled to last five days, aims to draw attention to the growing conflict between humans and elephants, which resulted in the deaths of 50 people and 228 elephants last year, Mr. Perera.

Last weekend, a 75-year-old man who rode a bicycle died after being attacked by an elephant, while another, 67, was trampled on in his home.

“At least four elephants die every week as a result of these conflicts. There are food and water shortages for the elephants who live in narrow areas between villages, ” he added.

Aishwarya Yogeshwar

Aishwarya Yogeshwar is the visionary founder of CGI Jaffna, a pioneering organization dedicated to fostering innovation and community growth in the Jaffna region. With a deep passion for news publishing, Aishwarya combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a keen interest in delivering impactful and engaging stories. Her commitment to creating a platform for reliable news and meaningful discourse reflects her dedication to empowering communities through knowledge and information. Aishwarya’s leadership and innovative approach make her a driving force in the world of media and communication.

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