Human-Elephant Conflict: Farmers in Sri Lanka to be Trained to Tackle Wild Elephants

22nd January 2010, firstlanka.com

Rural farmers living close to forest areas inhabited by wild elephants are to be taught to manage human animal conflicts through a new model dairy pilot project.

Its promoters Exetel, an Australian IT firm that runs a Call Centre in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, said they are to set up a model dairy farm in Wasgamuwa in Central Sri Lanka.

The 300,000 dollar farm will be used to demonstrate good livestock management practices among villages and assist in the supply of state veterinary services.

The farm is also expected to reduce human-elephant conflicts in the area, by introducing more compatible agricultural practices.

Agriculture is the country’s main rural industry, with most rural farmers surviving on the cultivation of cash crops such as sugar cane, which is also attractive as food to wild elephants. Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector loses about 10 million dollars a year due to crop damages caused by elephants.

Livestock and elephants can co-habit however, Exetel said, and could help ease the conflict, while providing farmers with an income.