Earth Science News
FARM NEWS
Sri Lanka counts seven million crop-busting monkeys
Sri Lanka counts seven million crop-busting monkeys
by AFP Staff Writers
Colombo (AFP) June 12, 2025

Sri Lanka counted more than seven million monkeys during a census of crop-destroying wildlife, authorities said Thursday, after a government minister called the figure "unbelievable".

Agrarian Research and Training Institute (ARTI) Chief Executive A. L. Sandika said that the refined data was in line with a previous survey "a few years ago", but did not elaborate.

"Initially, we had some issues with the data on monkeys. We had to check again to arrive at the final result," Sandika told reporters in Colombo.

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakodi announced last week that the census conducted on 15 March -- the first of its kind -- had turned up "unbelievable" data that required verification.

Authorities suggested that some enraged farmers might have exaggerated the numbers to suggest that the problem was even bigger in the nation of 21 million people.

Residents across the island were asked to count wild boar, peacocks, monkeys, and lorises-a small, largely nocturnal primate-spotted near farms and homes during a five-minute period.

The move was aimed at drawing up a national plan to deal with nuisance wildlife.

Opposition legislator Nalin Bandara had said the survey was "a complete failure, a waste of money".

Officials say more than a third of crops are destroyed by wild animals, including elephants, which are protected by law because they are considered sacred.

While elephants are major raiders of rice farms and fruit plantations, but they were not included in the March count.

The then-agricultural minister proposed in 2023 exporting some 100,000 macaques to Chinese zoos, but the plan was abandoned following protests from environmentalists.

Sri Lanka removed several species from its protected list in 2023, including all three of its monkey species as well as peacocks and wild boars, allowing farmers to kill them.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FARM NEWS
China extends anti-dumping probe into EU pork imports
Beijing (AFP) June 10, 2025
China said Tuesday it was extending an anti-dumping investigation into pork products imported from the European Union, one of several trade pressure points between the two economic giants. Beijing launched the probe last year amid Brussels' scrutiny of Chinese state subsidies for the electric-vehicle (EV) industry. The Chinese commerce ministry said it would prolong the inquiry for six months "in view of the complexity of this case". The investigation period will now expire on December 16, t ... read more

FARM NEWS
UK nuclear site could leak until 2050s, MPs warn

Govts scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran

Israel to expel French nationals on Gaza aid boat by end of week

Trump deploys Marines as tensions rise over Los Angeles protests

FARM NEWS
Trump pocketed over $57 mn from crypto coin sales

Toxic legacies of mining scar South Africa's Soweto and contaminate Thai rivers from Myanmar operations

Decarbonizing steel is as tough as steel

Look Up secures major capital boost to expand radar network and space traffic services

FARM NEWS
'We have to try everything': Vanuatu envoy taking climate fight to ICJ

'We show up': Pacific leaders apply pressure at oceans summit

Nations advance ocean protection, vow to defend seabed

New Zealand halts aid to Cook Islands over China deals

FARM NEWS
Permafrost in Swiss Alps at record warmth

Greenland ice melted much faster than average in May heatwave: scientists

Macron, on Greenland visit, berates Trump for threats against the territory

Greenland ice melted much faster than average in May heatwave

FARM NEWS
Heat tolerant crops achievable but require long timelines and major investment

Brazil says free of bird flu, will resume poultry exports

Climate change could cut crop yields up to a quarter

Turkmenistan names high-yield wheat after its leaders

FARM NEWS
Dozens of Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano erupts

Hundreds dead and missing as floods devastate Nigeria, India and China

Thousands evacuated as typhoon nears south China: state media

Vietnam death toll from Typhoon Wutip rises to seven

FARM NEWS
DR Congo, Rwanda to sign peace accord on June 27

Nairobi startup's bid to be 'operating system for global South'

Nine killed in Niger jihadist attack: local sources

E.Guinea leader pardons 37 a year after their arrest

FARM NEWS
Deforestation in S.Leone national park threatens chimps, humans alike

Light travels through entire human head in breakthrough for optical brain imaging

Human brain reveals hidden action cues AI still fails to grasp

If people stopped having babies, how long would it be before humans were all gone?

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.