Environmentalists charge that harming an animal by inflicting fatal wounds is a crime under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
They point out that although one could harm an animal in self defence, it has legal limitations.
The massive crocodile that had sent shivers amongst area residents was captured by them in the Ragama area on Tuesday night.
The residents of Ragama feared this crocodile after it was suspected that the reptile had killed an individual.
Reptile and Amphibian Specialist Mendis Wickremesinghe said that this crocodile was over fifteen feet long.
Later, Wildlife Officers intervened to take the crocodile to the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens.
But the reptile survived only for a few hours.
Wildlife officers stated that injuries suspected to have been made with an axe were evident on the crocodile's head.
Wildlife officers stated further that rope used to capture the crocodile had got entangled in the crocodile‘s spine leading to suffocation.
The postmortem of the crocodile was conducted at the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens February 8.
"During the postmortem examination we were able to detect several polythene items and fertliser sacks inside the crocodile's digestive system. When we inspected and analysed the remains of other animals which were also in the crocodile's digestive system, it was evident that waste from bucheries and
fish stalls were present in its stomache.''
''''We believe that this reptile may have strayed into this area owing to the bones and animal parts that are disposed there. If this continues more crocodiles will stray into this area which would become a huge problem for the area residents. Therefore just as the people do not like these animals, it is also important to ensure that waste is not released into areas that would attract such animals." said Environmentalist, Pubudu Wickramasinghe
Are there provisions in the law to harm animals in self defense?
"If some sort of harm or injury is caused to the animal at the time of capture, it becomes a crime under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This can be a domestic animal or a wild animal such as the animal that was captured. The type of the animal is unimportant in this matter. But causing harm, injury or death to an animal while it is in one's custody is a crime. "stated Attorney at Law Environmentalist, Jagath Gunawardene.
The massive crocodile that had sent shivers amongst area residents was captured by them in the Ragama area on Tuesday night.
The residents of Ragama feared this crocodile after it was suspected that the reptile had killed an individual.
Reptile and Amphibian Specialist Mendis Wickremesinghe said that this crocodile was over fifteen feet long.
Later, Wildlife Officers intervened to take the crocodile to the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens.
But the reptile survived only for a few hours.
Wildlife officers stated that injuries suspected to have been made with an axe were evident on the crocodile's head.
Wildlife officers stated further that rope used to capture the crocodile had got entangled in the crocodile‘s spine leading to suffocation.
The postmortem of the crocodile was conducted at the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens February 8.
"During the postmortem examination we were able to detect several polythene items and fertliser sacks inside the crocodile's digestive system. When we inspected and analysed the remains of other animals which were also in the crocodile's digestive system, it was evident that waste from bucheries and
fish stalls were present in its stomache.''
''''We believe that this reptile may have strayed into this area owing to the bones and animal parts that are disposed there. If this continues more crocodiles will stray into this area which would become a huge problem for the area residents. Therefore just as the people do not like these animals, it is also important to ensure that waste is not released into areas that would attract such animals." said Environmentalist, Pubudu Wickramasinghe
Are there provisions in the law to harm animals in self defense?
"If some sort of harm or injury is caused to the animal at the time of capture, it becomes a crime under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This can be a domestic animal or a wild animal such as the animal that was captured. The type of the animal is unimportant in this matter. But causing harm, injury or death to an animal while it is in one's custody is a crime. "stated Attorney at Law Environmentalist, Jagath Gunawardene.
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