Sri Lanka counts nuisance wildlife in bid to protect crops

Sri Lanka Counts Monkeys, Peacocks to Tackle Crop Damage

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) — Sri Lanka began a wildlife census on March 15 to count monkeys, peacocks and giant squirrels, aiming to manage their populations as farmers complain of agricultural losses.

In a land where monkeys are seen as pests, Sri Lanka’s white langurs are winning hearts

COLOMBO — Monkeys were expected to be among the chief culprits identified as Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide survey on March 15 of crop-raiding animals. But in a small village near the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an unusual population of langurs has captured attention, becoming a local tourist attraction. Purple-faced langurs (Semnopithecus vetulus) are found only in Sri Lanka and typically have a black coat with d…

Monkeys, peacocks and squirrels: Coconut losses and crop damage prompt Sri Lanka to conduct wildlife census

DAMBULLA, March 16 — Sri Lanka began a wildlife census today to count monkeys, peacocks and giant squirrels, aiming to manage their populations as farmers complain of agricultural losses. Agriculture accounts for 8 per cent of the country’s economy and employs 8.1 million people, government data showed. Sri Lanka is the fourth-largest coconut products exporter globally and produces about 3 billion cashew and other nuts annually, according to the…

Sri Lanka began a census of wildlife, including monkeys including baboons and wild squirrels, on Monday, with the aim of controlling their population after farmers reported significant losses in production.

An estimated 90 million coconuts alone eat wild animals every year from the farmers in Sri Lanka. They cause so much damage that some farmers abandon their farms. Now the animals are counted to find out how they can be brought under control.

Sri Lanka counts nuisance wildlife in bid to protect crops

Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide census Saturday of nuisance wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, in a bid to prepare countermeasures to protect crops, officials said.