Wildlife Department receives new vehicles worth nearly Rs. 2 billion

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has received a new fleet of vehicles to strengthen field operations, including efforts to manage the human-elephant conflict. Cabinet approval had been granted to procure 294 vehicles for officers attached to wildlife range and beat office…

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has received a new fleet of vehicles to strengthen field operations, including efforts to manage the human-elephant conflict. Cabinet approval had been granted to procure 294 vehicles for officers attached to wildlife range and beat offices. A batch of vehicles was symbolically handed over to the department on Monday (27) under the patronage of Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi. According to the ministry, the vehicles include 16 cabs and 181 motorcycles, with nearly Rs. 2 billion spent on the procurement. The vehicles are expected to be deployed primarily to offices in areas experiencing a high incidence of human-elephant conflict. Separately, nine tractors were handed over to the Director General of Wildlife Conservation on June 20. (Newswire)