The census of four animals that damage crops will be conducted on the 15th (Saturday) between 8 and 8.05 am, said Disna Ratnasinghe, Additional Secretary (Agricultural Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation.
She also said that the four animal groups that cause the most damage to agricultural crops and can be captured in the census at the same time – the toque macaque , the monkey, the peacock and the jaint squirrel – are scheduled to be counted.
She said this at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Agriculture to inform the media about the national census of wildlife that damage agricultural crops.
She said that this census is expected to be conducted under the leadership of the District Secretaries and the Grama Niladhari at the village level, and that the Samurdhi Development Officer, Economic Development Officer and Agricultural Research and Production Assistant Officers of the area will be used in support of the Grama Niladhari.
She said that animals in the forests will not be counted here, and only animals that invade the agricultural ecosystem and enter household units will be counted here. She said that animals in schools, hospitals and religious places will also be counted and that mapping will be done using this data.
Director (Wildlife Health) of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Tharaka Prasad, said that this census will be conducted according to a scientific methodology.
Hemantha Amarasinghe, Director (Agricultural Technology) of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that a leaflet regarding this census will be given to the residents and that the number of animals such as otters, monkeys, peacocks, and otters present on the land during the relevant period should be marked on it.
Apart from homesteads, the Grama Niladhari should deploy a responsible officer to conduct a census of these animals at bus stops, shop lots, and public places, and that the Estate Superintendents should implement a program to conduct a census of animals in tea and rubber estates, and that employees will be deployed in groups for this purpose, he said.