RESEARCH

Illegal capture and internal trade of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the major threats to global biodiversity. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have been highly valued by various cultures for use in religious and spiritual contexts, as a draft animal, and more recently, as a tourist attraction. Thus, the demand for captive elephants is high. Wild Asian elephants are taken from the wild, often illegally, to maintain these captive populations due to the unavailability of captive breeding programs. For the first time, we documented the extent to which wild elephants are being illegally captured and traded in Sri Lanka between January 2008 and December 2018. We collected data from case records maintained by the Sri Lanka court system where the suspects of illegal elephant trade were prosecuted in addition to information gathered by archives and interviews with various stakeholders. We documented 55 cases where elephants were illegally traded. This is probably an underestimate due to the mortality rate of elephants during capture operations, and challenges in collecting data on this highly organized illicit trade. Nearly equal numbers of male and female elephants were traded and more than 50% of them were juveniles, aged ≤5 years. Significantly more elephants were found to be seized in 2014–2015 than in the other time periods combined. We found evidence of the illegal capture of wild elephants from wildlife protected areas and state forests. More importantly, we identified evidence of corruption of wildlife officers, involvement of politicians and other high-ranking personnel in the illegal wildlife trade, and lack of active enforcement of wildlife law as major challenges to overcome if the illegal capture and domestic trade of wild elephants in Sri Lanka are to be halted. Based on our study, we make a series of recommendations that should result in implementing policy to reduce the trafficking of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka and improve the conservation management of the species.

https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/57283/ 

Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka: Patterns and Extent
Abstract

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) has become a serious socio-economic and conservation problem in Sri Lanka. We assessed the overall level of HEC in the country during 2010–2019 and the patterns of conflict in relation to administrative districts. Globally, Sri Lanka had the highest annual elephant deaths and second highest human deaths, due to HEC. Male mortality was higher in both elephants and people. Conflict has greatly increased in intensity and geographic extent from that reported previously. The highest conflict has shifted from the Northwest to the East and North-Central areas, with the Northwest showing a decline in conflict. The changes in different areas were probably related to differences in management actions and developmental activity. Further increase in HEC is likely in the Eastern, North-Central and Northern regions.

https://www.asesg.org/PDFfiles/2020/51-16-Prakash.pdf



 WHAT MAKES WILDLIFE TOURISTS HAPPY AND WHAT DISAPPOINTS THEM? LEARNING FROM REVIEWS POSTED ON TRIPADVISOR
Abstract

Wildlife tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors worldwide and has been increasingly used to promote tourism in certain countries. With 26 national parks and 61 wildlife reserves covering 13% of its land surface area, Sri Lanka has a great potential to become one of the world’s hotspots for wildlife tourism. However, in order to ensure a sustainable development of this sector it is essential to evaluate tourists’ level of satisfaction with their experience. This research examined the main factors contributing to tourist satisfaction / dissatisfaction in Sri Lanka’s most visited national park. QDA Miner and Wordstat software were used for the qualitative content analysis and coding of reviews posted by international tourists on TripAdvisor. The research revealed that the great majority of visitors were satisfied with their visit at Yala National Park. However, this overall assessment masks a highly uneven visitor experience which was understood only after qualitatively analyzing the content of the visitors’ comments. The study found that satisfaction/dissatisfaction of visitors depends on three main factors: the number and diversity of animals, the number of vehicles and tourists and the knowledge and skills of guides and drivers. These findings have a number of managerial implications which are highlighted at the end of the study.




 Reasons for visitor dissatisfaction with wildlife tourism experiences at highly visited national parks in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Viewing of wildlife is a significant component of Sri Lanka's tourism industry with foreign visitation accounting for the larger share of income derived from national parks. Visitors posting reviews of their experiences in social media and travel websites is a growing global phenomenon. Such reviews serve as reliable and unbiased information sources for potential travellers as well as contemporary travel researchers. This study examined the major causes of visitor dissatisfaction during wildlife tourism experiences at five highly visited NPs in Sri Lanka.
We examined 206 negative reviews posted in the travel website TripAdvisor. Analysis found 15 major causes of visitor dissatisfaction with nearly 75% of negative reviews linked to park management related problems, with the remainder stressing tour-operator related issues. Our findings raise concerns that require urgent attention by park management in order to foster more positive visitor experiences and sustainable tourism in popular Sri Lankan national parks
Management implications:
• Managers need to ‘hear’ what tourists are saying with a view to enhancing visitor experiences and improving visitor management in protected areas.
• Major causes of visitor dissatisfaction are directly under the control of park management or tour operators. Ethical conduct, legal compliance, visitor safety and communication are key areas that need attention.
• Overcrowded conditions and congestion at wildlife sightings requires the introduction of maximum limits to reduce the number of vehicles entering high visitation parks.
• Necessary actions include improving professional standards of tour operators and guides via education and training for internal and contracted staff

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327026302_Reasons_for_visitor_dissatisfaction_with_wildlife_tourism_experiences_at_highly_visited_national_parks_in_Sri_Lanka



Visitor Discontent at Five Ex-Situ Elephant Conservation Establishments in Asia

Abstract

Tourism is a significant aspect of most ex-situ conservation establishments for Asian Elephants. We assessed reasons for visitor discontent in five highly visited establishments in Asia, by analysing on-line visitor comments. The proportion of negative reviews varied significantly between institutions. Ten reasons for visitor discontent were identified. Unethical treatment of elephants was the commonest and lack of conservation relevance the second commonest reason stated for discontent. Other reasons for visitor discontent were related to misbehaviour of mahouts, management deficiencies and inadequacy of facilities.
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MANGROVE DIVERSITY IN MUTHURAJAWELA AND NEGOMBO LAGOON WETLAND COMPLEX, SRI LANKA: INSIGHTS FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Mangrove forests are extremely productive ecosystems that provide various good and services for the marine environment and people and the species diversity in mangroves is comparatively higher in Sri Lanka. Wide array of coastal wetland ecosystems in Sri Lanka harbors significant mangrove diversity and total number of 21 true mangrove species reported from the island is almost one third of the global diversity of true mangroves in the world. However , estimated 76% of mangrove forests were disappeared from Sri Lanka over the past 100 years and remains only about 8,800 ha of Mangrove forests island wide. The Muthurajawela and Negombo lagoon wetland complex is a diverse mangrove ecosystem located in rapidly developing urban area near Economic capital of Sri Lanka. This study attempted to document the true mangrove diversity of this wetland complex, their direct uses, and conservation problems in order to emphasize the importance for conservation. It involved sampling of mangrove flora in five sampling sites and interviewing the stakeholders (n=78). According to the study the Muthurajawela and Negombo Lagoon wetland complex is an important habitat for mangroves in Sri Lanka where 16 mangrove species were recorded belongs to nine families including three Nationally Endangered mangrove species. This mangrove ecosystem can be utilized in a sustainable manner for providing the economical and ecological benefits to the nation. However, at present this is extremely vulnerable ecosystem and need rapid and strong interventions for the conservation and sustainable use.
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REASONS FOR VISITOR DISSATISFACTION IN NATIONAL PARKS BASED TOURISM IN SRI LANKA
Abstract

National Parks (NPs) based wildlife tourism is a significant component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry with foreign visitations accounting for the larger share of income of NPs. However, current wildlife tourism practices based on NPs seem to be unsustainable, and cause bad tourism experiences, especially in the case of foreign visitors. This study examined the major causes of visitor dissatisfaction during wildlife tourism experiences at five highly visited NPs in Sri Lanka using reviews posted in the travel website TripAdvisor.

Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319154144_REASONS_FOR_VISITOR_DISSATISFACTION_IN_NATIONAL_PARKS_BASED_TOURISM_IN_SRI_LANKA


 

TRUE MANGROVE DIVERSITY IN MUTHURAJAWELA AND NEGOMBO LAGOON WETLAND COMPLEX IN WESTERN PROVINCE, SRI LANKA

                                                                          Abstract

This study attempted to document the true mangrove diversity of this wetland complex, their direct uses, and conservation problems in order to emphasize the importance for conservation. It involved sampling of mangrove flora in five sampling sites and information on direct uses and conservation problems with regard to mangrove flora in the site was collected by interviewing the stakeholders (n=78). According to the study the Muthurajawela and Negombo Lagoon wetland complex is an important habitat for mangroves in Sri Lanka where 16 mangrove species were recorded belongs to nine families including three Nationally Endangered mangrove species. This mangrove ecosystem can be utilized in a sustainable manner for providing the economical and ecological benefits to the nation. However, at present this is extremely vulnerable ecosystem and need rapid and strong interventions for the conservation and sustainable use. 


 

A Case Study of Wild Asian Elephant Attacks on Foreign Tourists in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The majority of tourists visiting Sri Lanka are interested in observing elephants in the wild. Therefore the elephant is a key component of Sri Lankan tourism industry. However, elephants can also pose a danger to tourists. This study analyzed incidents of wild Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) attacks involving foreign tourists in the past three years.

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Status of Wetland Tourism in the Muthurajawela Wetland Sanctuary

Abstract

This study is based on foreign tourists visitations handled by the Muthurajawela Visitors’ Center (MVC) during the past eight years, 2008 to 2015, and the main objective is to identify the trends of foreign tourist arrivals over the study period. It will provide better understanding of the existing situation and of the future opportunities for the wetland eco-tourism sector in Sri Lanka.



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