Colombo, Oct. 22 (Daily Mirror) - The use of locally manufactured firearms and equipment is making it difficult for wildlife authorities to trace those responsible for crimes against wild animals, Department of Wildlife Conservation Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said.
Addressing the media he said most firearms and equipment used in such offences were not factory-manufactured, making it difficult for authorities to identify and trace them.
“None of the firearms or equipment currently in use are products of a factory; most are locally manufactured,” Marasinghe said.
He explained that the lack of identifying details made monitoring such equipment particularly challenging. Improvised devices, including 'hakkapatas' (improvised explosive traps), were also difficult to identify unless people were familiar with their appearance.
Despite these challenges, wildlife officers continued to conduct raids and take legal action against those involved in wildlife-related offences, he said.
Marasinghe said officers had recently carried out operations over several days in areas including Yala and Udawalawe. Specialised rangers and field officers in these areas also supported enforcement activities.
The department planned its operations by considering information on the frequency and nature of wildlife offences. It also relied on a dedicated information network and intelligence received from various security agencies to investigate incidents, including the shooting of elephants.
He said information about arrests, legal action and penalties imposed on offenders was regularly shared through the department's Facebook page. Officers also received information through personal contacts and other public channels.
Referring to the challenges faced by wildlife authorities, Marasinghe said it was not possible to eliminate all wildlife-related crimes immediately. Tracing locally manufactured firearms and identifying those responsible remained difficult, particularly in cases involving members of the public.
However, he said the number of elephant deaths had decreased significantly this year compared to last year, indicating that the measures taken by authorities were helping to control such incidents.
Wildlife officers continued to carry out their duties across their designated areas despite these challenges, with law enforcement remaining the department's primary responsibility, he added.