Elephants Dying in Sri Lanka from Eating Plastic Waste
2022-01-21
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1Wildlife workers in Sri Lanka say two elephants were recently found dead after eating plastic waste in an open landfill.
2The problem is not new in the country.
3Conservationists and those who treat wildlife said about 20 elephants have died in the last eight years after eating plastic waste.
4The incidents happened at a landfill near a village in the Ampara District, about 210 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo.
5Nihal Pushpakumara is a veterinarian, a doctor for animals.
6He told The Associated Press that examinations of the dead animals showed they had swallowed large amounts of plastic that is not biodegradable.
7Biodegradable means a material can break down naturally in the environment.
8Different kinds of plastics were discovered inside the elephants along with other substances the animals could not digest, Pushpakumara said.
9Elephants are deeply respected in Sri Lanka.
10They are also endangered.
11Their numbers have dropped from about 14,000 in the 19th century to 6,000 in 2011, the latest government data shows.
12Pushpakumara said hungry elephants can end up eating plastics or sharp objects that can damage their digestive systems.
13"The elephants then stop eating and become too weak to keep their heavy frames upright," he added.
14Unable to eat or drink, the animals can quickly die.
15In 2017, the government announced a plan to recycle waste in dumps near wildlife areas, or zones, to prevent elephants from eating dangerous materials.
16Officials also promised to build electric fences around the areas to keep the animals away.
17But so far, neither plan has been fully carried out.
18The government estimates there are 54 waste dumps in wildlife zones around the country.
19About 300 elephants move around these areas.
20The landfill in Ampara was set up in 2008 with aid from the European Union.
21Waste collected from nine nearby villages is being dumped there but is not being recycled.
22In 2014, an electric fence that protected the area was struck by lightning and was never repaired.
23Villagers said they fear the elephants, which moved closer and settled near the waste area.
24Many people use fireworks to chase the animals away when they come into the village.
25Others have built electric fences around their homes.
26But some of the local people do not know how to safely complete the fences.
27A village councilor in the area told the AP that people setting up electric barriers "could endanger their own lives as well as those of the elephants."
28The official added, "Even though we call them a menace, wild elephants are also a resource."
29He called on local officials to find ways to protect both humans and the elephants, and to permit agriculture to continue.
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Wildlife workers in Sri Lanka say two elephants were recently found dead after eating plastic waste in an open landfill. 2The problem is not new in the country. Conservationists and those who treat wildlife said about 20 elephants have died in the last eight years after eating plastic waste. The incidents happened at a landfill near a village in the Ampara District, about 210 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo. 3Nihal Pushpakumara is a veterinarian, a doctor for animals. He told The Associated Press that examinations of the dead animals showed they had swallowed large amounts of plastic that is not biodegradable. Biodegradable means a material can break down naturally in the environment. 4Different kinds of plastics were discovered inside the elephants along with other substances the animals could not digest, Pushpakumara said. 5Elephants are deeply respected in Sri Lanka. They are also endangered. Their numbers have dropped from about 14,000 in the 19th century to 6,000 in 2011, the latest government data shows. 6Pushpakumara said hungry elephants can end up eating plastics or sharp objects that can damage their digestive systems. 7"The elephants then stop eating and become too weak to keep their heavy frames upright," he added. Unable to eat or drink, the animals can quickly die. 8In 2017, the government announced a plan to recycle waste in dumps near wildlife areas, or zones, to prevent elephants from eating dangerous materials. Officials also promised to build electric fences around the areas to keep the animals away. But so far, neither plan has been fully carried out. 9The government estimates there are 54 waste dumps in wildlife zones around the country. About 300 elephants move around these areas. 10The landfill in Ampara was set up in 2008 with aid from the European Union. Waste collected from nine nearby villages is being dumped there but is not being recycled. 11In 2014, an electric fence that protected the area was struck by lightning and was never repaired. Villagers said they fear the elephants, which moved closer and settled near the waste area. 12Many people use fireworks to chase the animals away when they come into the village. 13Others have built electric fences around their homes. But some of the local people do not know how to safely complete the fences. A village councilor in the area told the AP that people setting up electric barriers "could endanger their own lives as well as those of the elephants." 14The official added, "Even though we call them a menace, wild elephants are also a resource." He called on local officials to find ways to protect both humans and the elephants, and to permit agriculture to continue. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18____________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20landfill - n. an area where waste is buried under the ground 21conservationist - n. someone who believes that people should protect nature 22digest - v. to break down food in the stomach into substances that the body can use 23frame - n. the shape of someone's body 24menace - n. something that is likely to cause harm