GURUGE NATURE’S PARK RAIDED

Information regarding cruelty to animals revealed at Guruge’s Natures’ Park, reason for raiding:

At Walgampitiya, in Ja -Ela “Guruge ”Natures’ Park is exclusively a private animal ‘Zoo”, is run purely for commercial gain. It was reported and raided earlier that they have in their custody a wide range of animals and varieties of species of birds. But according to the Flora and Fauna law enacted they do not adhere to look after the animals, the way they should be looked after in accordance with the laid down regulations.
On an earlier occasion the ‘Gossiplankanews’ web site reported in October 2011, about the cruelty to animals in this private ’Zoo’. This was raided then and the Manager was arrested and the animals that needed to be treated were taken to the Dehiwala Zoological gardens for treatment and to be kept in their custody.
 Some of those animals were found wounded and sick were Monkeys, Porcupines (Iththewa) and birds of various varieties devoid of wings, which probably had fallen or cut for financial gains.
At the Guruge Natures’ Park the animals are not looked after in accordance to the laid down rules and procedures. They had failed to treat the sick and provide the necessary meals and that too at regular intervals.  The flying squad of the Wild Life Department on a tip off had visited the Guruge Natures’ Park, had observed several discrepancies and had taken into their possession those neglected and wounded animals.
For flouting the Fauna & Flora act, the Manager was arrested and handed over to the Police who had produced him before the Negombo Magistrate yesterday. They had found Doves ( kobbaiyoh’s) Tortoises, and pieces of bones of Elephants.
In accordance to the Fauna & Flora Act enacted every year the licence of this Natures’ Park has to be renewed yearly. The authorities of the Guruge Natures’ Park has flouted all laid down regulations for running a private ‘Zoo’ for commercial gain. However when the ‘Natures’ Park was raided there were some imported animals. The authorities of the wild life department were not aware what course of action that could be done in regard to these animals imported.
On the whole most laid down regulations have been flouted and disobeyed by the authorities of the Guruge Natures’ Park.
After the Manager was arrested and produced before the Negombo Magistrate, all animals that were either injured or neglected were taken away and handed over to the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens in accordance with the Flora & fauna Act.
 There is much doubt whether such a private Zoological gardens could be run for financial gain without adhering to the comforts of the animals, and providing food at required times. This matter needs attention of the Wild life authorities and should be intervened by their  related authorities.
The photographs of some animals who are wounded and & neglected are shown BELOW:



The photographs of animals in this Guruge Natures’ Park who are living normally could be seen from BELOW: