Defenders of wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka: a cautionary note for the future of rangers

Q1 Environmental Science

Parks Pub Date : 2021-12-14 DOI:10.2305/iucn.ch.2021.parks-27-2slp.en

Supun L. Prakash, Gamini V. Samarakoon, B. Madurapperuma, S. Karunarathna, Thilina D. Surasinghe

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Providing physical protection to wildlife is among the most high-risk professions in the conservation sector as it is directly associated with the prevention of wildlife crimes. In Sri Lanka, the Department of Wildlife Conservation is the primary government agency responsible for the long-term conservation and protection of biological diversity. Since the establishment of the department in October 1949, there have been casualties in the line of duty among field officers of DWC. Here, we examine the nature and the conditions that led to the demise of these field officers whilst on duty. From October 1949 to December 2020, at least 80 have been killed and one reported missing while on duty. The death rate averaged one officer per year. The major cause of death was terrorist attacks followed by encounters with free-ranging Asian Elephants, and confrontations with wildlife criminals. Providing physical protection to the wildlife and prevention of environmental crimes are critical pillars in conservation, therefore preventing untimely death of wildlife officers is paramount. Providing rigorous training for wildlife officers, protective gear, firearms, and other logistic resources and capacity building is imperative to boost the morale and career commitments of Sri Lanka’s wildlife officers.

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斯里兰卡野生动物保护的捍卫者：对护林员未来的警示

为野生动物提供实物保护是保护部门中风险最高的职业之一，因为它与预防野生动物犯罪直接相关。在斯里兰卡，野生动物保护部是负责长期保护和保护生物多样性的主要政府机构。自1949年10月该部门成立以来，DWC的战地军官在执行任务时发生了伤亡事件。在这里，我们研究了导致这些战地军官在执勤期间死亡的性质和条件。从1949年10月到2020年12月，至少有80人在执勤时死亡，一人据报失踪。平均每年有一名军官死亡。死亡的主要原因是恐怖袭击，随后是与自由放养的亚洲象的遭遇，以及与野生动物罪犯的对抗。为野生动物提供实物保护和预防环境犯罪是保护的关键支柱，因此防止野生动物官员过早死亡至关重要。为野生动物官员提供严格的培训、防护装备、枪支和其他后勤资源以及能力建设，对于提高斯里兰卡野生动物官员的士气和职业承诺至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Parks Environmental Science-Nature and Landscape Conservation

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

20 weeks

期刊介绍： We aim for PARKS to be a rigorous, challenging publication with high academic credibility and standing. But at the same time the journal is and should remain primarily a resource for people actively involved in establishing and managing protected areas, under any management category or governance type. We aim for the majority of papers accepted to include practical management information. We also work hard to include authors who are involved in management but do not usually find the time to report the results of their research and experience to a wider audience. We welcome submissions from people whose written English is imperfect as long as they have interesting research to report, backed up by firm evidence, and are happy to work with authors to develop papers for the journal. PARKS is published with the aim of strengthening international collaboration in protected area development and management by: • promoting understanding of the values and benefits derived from protected areas to governments, communities, visitors, business etc; • ensuring that protected areas fulfil their primary role in nature conservation while addressing critical issues such as ecologically sustainable development, social justice and climate change adaptation and mitigation; • serving as a leading global forum for the exchange of information on issues relating to protected areas, especially learning from case studies of applied ideas; • publishing articles reporting on recent applied research that is relevant to protected area management; • changing and improving protected area management, policy environment and socio-economic benefits through use of information provided in the journal; and • promoting IUCN’s work on protected areas.