Five suspects have been apprehended for hunting a pregnant spotted deer in the Wilpattu National Park on Wednesday (28). 

The arrests were made by wildlife officers from the Kukulkatuwa Beat Office of the Wilpattu National Park who were patrolling the Meegasdeniya area around 12:30 pm. 

The wildlife officers had observed that a pregnant spotted deer had been killed and was being prepared for meat. 

One individual had obstructed the duties of the wildlife officers and fled the scene.

Although the suspects were in possession of firearms, the wildlife officers managed to apprehend five individuals, seizing a 12-bore firearm, ammunition, a machete, two motorcycles, and an electric torch.

The suspects and the case items are scheduled to be presented before the Nochchiyagama Magistrate’s Court today.

Wildlife officials have launched investigations to locate the suspect who had fled. (Newswire)

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NPP Colombo District MP Aruna Panagoda says a decision has been taken to relocate a herd of deer found roaming in several Grama Seva Divisions in Homagama. 

MP Panagoda informed Parliament yesterday that a herd of between 1500 to 2500 deer was in the area destroying the products of farmers in the area. 

“There is a huge deer population in 5 or 6 Grama Seva Divisions of our Homagama electorate. We have been working for years to rectify this situation. The Wildlife Department has now taken an approach to remove these animals from here,” he said. 

MP Panagoda said that together with the Wildlife Department, they began a survey to estimate the deer population in the constituency.

“Currently, information has been received that a population of between 1,500 and 2,500 deer is destroying all the products of farmers in 5 or 6 Grama Seva Divisions around Homagama town,” he said. 

MP Panagoda said that as such, a decision has been taken to capture the deer very safely and relocate them to a suitable area. (Newswire)

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A program has been launched under the Eastern Province Tourism Bureau to protect the deer population in Trincomalee.

A statement from the Eastern Province Governor’s Office stated that the process of conducting a deer survey was launched in Trincomalee City on Saturday (24).

The program was jointly launched by the Eastern Province Tourism Bureau, the Divisional Secretariat of Town & Gravats, and the Urban Council of Trincomalee to survey the deer population in Trincomalee City.

Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman, the Chairman of the Eastern Province Tourism Bureau, the Divisional Secretary, the Urban Council Secretary, Government officials and Volunteers from several organizations participated in this program.

Commenting on the program, Governor Senthil Thondaman said that an anatomical examination revealed more than 20 deer have died in Trincomalee due to the reason of eating plastic waste.

The Governor further stated that a committee has been appointed to look into the issues of deer safety and food and that hopefully, Trincomalee will become a place with more deer in the forthcoming days. (NewsWire)

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