Call to protect lives of wildlife officers | Sunday Observer

Call to protect lives of wildlife officers

2 April, 2023

Nearly 13 wildlife conservation officers died during the past 10 years due to wild elephant attacks and the shootings of poachers while performing their duties in forests. President of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Officers’ Association, Kumarasiri Wijekoon told the Sunday Observer that there are nearly 850 wildlife conservation officers to protect wildlife and rare wild animals that face extinction. The number of wildlife conservation officers has to be increased tenfold to conserve wildlife resources in Sri Lanka. He said the Government has already withdrawn firearms from wildlife conservation officers and hence, their lives are in danger. “Therefore, I appeal to the Government to consider the possibility of providing firearms again to these officers for their self-defence,” he added.

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