Park Rangers & guides suspended over Yala animal cruelty incident

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The safari guides who accompanied a group in a fleet of vehicles who operated recklessly inside the Yala National Park and harassed the wildlife, and the group of Park Rangers who failed to control the situation have been interdicted.

Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera has suspended the group of guides and the Rangers with immediate effect.

The development comes after the videos of the incident went viral on social media platforms.

Yesterday, the Department of Wildlife announced that it decided to file charges against individuals harming and harassing wild animals in the Yala National Park.

Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Director General of Wildlife to seek immediate legal action against individuals who drove vehicles towards wild animals at the park.

Accordingly, the Ministry noted that the Wildlife Department is in possession of information pertaining to such individuals, their National Identity Card numbers, addresses, and vehicle numbers and all evidence required to prove their improper conduct.

Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara said a decision was therefore reached to file cases against such individuals.

The Department said the individuals who engaged in such misdemeanour in the past were not in Yala under special sponsorship and will face legal action.