threats

‘Misty mountains, fern and moss covered tropical wilderness, falling waterfalls comprise the background. Long-drawn-out calls of wild birds in the morning sun and the sound of the flowing streams make music in the air. It is a warm and a humid morning in the forest, and a python gently creeps through the bush. Hundreds of colorful birds and butterflies emerging from the forest strata are on the way to their roosting places in the afternoon. As night falls, a leopard is on the move searching for its prey through the noise of thousands of creeping insects and frogs. This is a typical Sri Lankan jungle……… ’

The story can go on, but times have surely changed!

It is well known that Sri Lanka is a country rich in biological diversity. In fact, Sri Lanka is one of the eight ‘Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots’ of the world. But our remarkable diversity of reptiles, particularly the snakes, is under severe threat.

Ever since Adam’s early encounter with the ‘Serpent’, snakes have been the receivers of a bad press. Snakes have an image problem due to which most people fear and loath them. To many people, they are worth more dead than alive. Due to this negative impression of these snakes, which arose from the early days, most snakes are ruthlessly over-killed through fear, misidentification, poor knowledge and as precautionary measure against snakebite, despite their being ecologically important as pest controllers. Studies indicate that an average of five snakes was killed daily in Mahaweli settlement areas (the largest rehabilitation programme conducted in the country due to the construction of several hydroelectric reservoirs) alone.

Other than over-killing, loss of habitat and human interference are two, common threats faced by the all reptiles in the country. Lack of consistent studies on the population dynamics and distribution etc. for most species, preclude confident statements or even inference on reduction in populations.

Deforestation or the reduction of wild land habitats to less than the critical amount necessary for the survival of the species has become a serious environmental issue in the island. Especially chena cultivation (slash and burn cultivation), an ancient practice that still continues in many parts of the dry zone, the main geographical distribution zone of most reptiles, does major damage. Over 1000 hectares of forests and grasslands are known to burn annually, damaging most reptiles and their eggs etc.

Because of the deforestation and habitat fragmentation, which took place in the recent past , reptiles have adopted a peculiar life style. Driven away from their natural habitats by sprawling urbanization and cultivation, most species have got to the forest boundaries and cultivated lands. In the case of agamids and skinks the situation is clearly visible. In those secondary habitats most reptiles have become more vulnerable to natural or domestic predators and Native Opportunistic Fauna. Domestic cats , poultry and birds such as the House Crow (Corvus splendens) , Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Common Coucal (Centropus sinensis) and most raptors are recorded to be predators of snakes, agamids, geckos, skinks and juvenile monitor lizards. Reptiles are commonly victimized when it comes to crossing roads , either in town areas or during movement across roads, which have fragmented their home range.

There is evidence that a considerable number of reptiles are smuggled out of the country each year. Over-collection by researches and rearing herps for enjoyment, especially terrapins, tortoises and snakes, without the necessary knowledge, are also considerable factors.

The application of weedicides , insecticides & chemical fertilizers etc. , in vegetable plots, rice fields and even in home gardens is increasing in the country . This decreases the insect, earthworm and amphibian populations, which are important food sources for most of the reptiles. Furthermore, these chemicals can be toxic, which directly affects these reptiles, associated with the cultivated areas (e.g. :- Calotes sp. and skinks ). In addition, fossorial skinks and snakes associated with cultivated lands are destroyed by field preparation activities etc.

The human population in Sri Lanka is continuously growing and people are trying to develop their standard of living through economic development based on natural resource utilization in general, and particularly on exploiting forest resources. According to the recent census the present population of the island is around 19 million and it is almost 290 people per km² making Sri Lanka one of the most densely populated countries in Asia. Local people once in a blue moon regret the loss of reptiles from the neighborhood, and it may in fact even provide a mental relief to most of them.

Given this situation the, management and conservation of reptiles in Sri Lanka must be backed by strong educational programmes and public awareness campaigns on the importance of these animals in the ecology of nature. Hence, ultimately it appears that successful conservation of reptiles in the country will have to largely depend on educational organizing. Without good extension work, which encourages the full participation of local people in implementing and maintaining conservation plans in their areas, there are only few good prospects for the protection of reptiles and other wildlife species in the country.