A committee has been appointed to determine the status of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Dandulena) as a national animal of Sri Lanka.
Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera said the committee consists of the Secretaries from the Ministries of Agriculture and Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation.
He further said that the committee will never take an arbitrary decision regarding the removal of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Dandulena) as a national animal.
Stating that the decision will be finalized after taking into consideration recommendations by the committee and the public, he added that he has no objection to recommendations on the animal remaining as a national animal.
As Giant Squirrels top the list of wild animals that cause crop damage, the Agriculture and Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministries had decided to include the Giant Squirrel in the list of pests.
However, as the species has been named the national animal of Sri Lanka, a problematic situation has arisen to include it in that list. (NewsWire)
