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By Vasana Wickremasena (Reproduced from the Daily Mirror – August 28, 2001)
Wild Life Department Director General Dayananda Kariyawasam told the Daily Mirror that about 10-12 monkeys had died at Bundala due to ‘unidentified’ causes. “This has been happening since a couple of weeks ago. We suspect the deaths were due to dehydration,” Mr. Kariyawasam said. “We have taken immediate steps to supply drinking water to the national park using barrels until a permanent solution is found,” he said. However, when the Daily Mirror visited the park days after the barrel water was provided we noticed carcasses of two monkeys. When this was pointed out Mr. Kariyawasam said parts of the dead monkeys had already been sent to the animal production and health department in Peradeniya for a full report. It is learnt that the area veterinary surgeon of the wild life department had visited Bundala several times and conducted tests. The vet reached the conclusion that the deaths could have been due to dehydration and instructed officials to supply fresh water. But she had referred the samples to Peradeniya for further investigation. The Bundala Park warden was not available for comment. Environmentalists point out that the deaths could be due to lack of food. The food scarcity has resulted from the two-year-long drought existing in the south. The drought has totally upset the livelihood of the wildlife as well as the humans in the area. Hambantota District Secretary Ananda Amaratunga said the drought had severely affected more than 55,000 families in the area and local councils had taken steps to supply drinking water at least once a week. Non-government organizations and politicians are busy distributing relief to the affected families. However, Bundala monkeys, who have no voting rights, have to wait till the rain arrives for trees to bear leaves and fruits.
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