Monday, April 3, 2006, 11:57 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

 * Elephants in Sri Lanka national park face food scarcity
Monday, April 3, 2006, 11:57 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 03, Colombo: Elephants living in the Udawalawe National Wild Park are facing a food problem due to the spread of ‘Lantana’ ('Gandapana'). Lantanas are bushes that grow up to the height of eight feet and bear bunches of flowers and tiny fruit throughout the year.

Lantana are spread in around 5000 hectares of the land, says Upali Pathmasiri, the Administrator of the Udawalawe National Wild Park. These bushes are grown over the fields from which the elephants feed.

Department of Wild Life has begun a programme to remove these bushes with the support of the Lions Club. Students of the neighbouring schools and the villagers who live around the Wild Park also participate in these progammes.

Sri Lankan Daily News and Reports