Chicken prices force Sri Lankans eat wild animals

Colombo: Sri Lankans are increasingly poaching wild animals in national parks because they cannot afford to buy chicken after its price shot up in the market, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Officers Association (SLWCOA) told the Daily Mirror that killing of wild animals was going on in Polonnaruwa Minneriya, Somawathiya, Wasgamuwa, Maduruoya and Jalagelum Nimna National Park as well as other forest reserves.

The rapid increase in the chicken price in the market has resulted in an increase in the demand for killing wild animals, the daily said.

The association has urged the government to make the Wildlife Conservation Department an essential service and organise a programme to protect Sri Lanka's forests and wildlife resources.

The association also mentioned that they have to curtail their duties on Saturdays and Sundays due to the current fuel crisis, the daily said. (UNI)