By Risidra Mendis
Environmentalists have criticized Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) officers after they failed to save the life of a fishing cat after it was captured by villagers in Divulapitiya, Gampaha.
An official at the Gampaha DWLC office told Ceylon Today that villagers had captured the adult male fishing cat with a noose on 25 March 2017.
“When the animal got restless and began struggling, the villagers called the DWLC for help. But by the time we got to Divulapitiya, the cat was in a bad condition.Wildlife officers tried to remove the noose from the animal’s neck and release it. But the villagers protested and told us not to release the animal in this area. When we were trying to catch the cat and put it in a cage to be taken away, the noose tightened and the animal died,” the DWLC officer said.
He added that one of the wildlife officers was also bitten by the fishing cat while trying to catch it. The animal’s head was sent to the Medical Research Institute to check for rabies.
Asked why they took orders from the villagers a DWLC officer said they didn’t want to create an unpleasant situation since the media was also present and decided to capture the animal and take it away.
“We cannot find out who caught the fishing cat because the villagers are not giving us any information. However we have told them that catching a fishing cat is against the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO),” the DWLC officer explained.
“The fishing cat is strictly protected under Section 30 sub section 2 of the FFPO and it is an offence to kill, injure or take an animal into captivity,” environment lawyer Jagath Gunewardena said.
Commenting on the inexperienced DWLC officers, Zoologist Dilan Peiris said it is very clear in the video that the DWLC officers were responsible for the death of the fishing cat. “They should have first cleared the crowds that were watching and shouting and traumatizing the animal. They should know how to catch a wild animal in an emergency situation without causing too much stress to the animal. If they had the proper training to capture a wild animal this fishing cat would be alive today. The Wildlife Training Centre in Giritale does not provide the required training for these DWLC officers,” Peiris said.
He added that a veterinary surgeon should have been present to capture this animal. But DWLC officers insist that they don’t have enough vets to be sent in emergency situations. Why is it that vets don’t like to join the Wildlife Department? These are questions that need to be addressed by Wildlife and Sustainable Development Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, because it is the responsibility of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) to help and protect all animals in the country,” Peiris explained.
source – 02/04/2017, Ceylon Today, See more at – http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170101CT20170331.php?id=18415
