Fishermen who rescued a rare dugong trapped in fishing nets off the coast of the Vedithalathivu Nature Reserve were formally recognised by Sri Lanka’s wildlife authorities on Monday.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation honoured five fishermen at its Colombo head office for rescuing the endangered marine mammal on November 15. The dugong had become entangled in fishing nets while the fishermen were operating in waters adjacent to the protected reserve.
Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi attended the ceremony alongside the Director General of Wildlife Conservation Ranjan Marasinghe and senior wildlife officers.
Officials said the fishermen made a personal sacrifice by cutting and destroying their fishing net — a valuable piece of equipment — in order to free the animal. The minister praised their actions, noting that such decisions reflected a strong sense of responsibility towards marine conservation.
The fishermen said awareness programmes conducted by wildlife officers in the Mannar region had helped them understand the importance of protecting dugongs, which are classified as strictly protected marine mammals under Sri Lanka’s Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. They said they did not hesitate to damage their net to save the animal’s life.
As recognition for their actions, the Department of Wildlife Conservation awarded Rs. 40,000 each to the five fishermen, amounting to a total of Rs. 200,000, from the Wildlife Conservation Fund. Certificates of appreciation were also presented by the environment minister.
Speaking at the event, the minister said that while the law would be enforced firmly against illegal activities, recognising and encouraging positive conservation efforts was an equally important part of protecting wildlife. He also commended the department for organising the programme.
Director General Marasinghe said this was the first time in the department’s history that such a recognition had been formally extended to civilians. He noted that wildlife conservation should not be limited to officials alone and that responsible citizens played a vital role in protecting Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. He added that similar programmes would be introduced in the future to encourage public participation in conservation efforts. (Newswire)
