Conservationists have warned that elephants are consuming plastic debris at an open landfill which of course, is toxic to them. [photo credit:AP] About twenty elephants have died eating plastic in the last eight years from the dump in Pallakkadu village, 130 miles east of the capitol, Columbo. A wildlife vet told AP that post mortem examinations revealed large amounts of plastic waste in their digestive systems. Normal food was not even present in their guts indicating food shortages and hunger is driving the elephants to regularly visit the dump to feed. After filling their stomachs with plastic waste they are unable to eat normal food and drink water. Since the waste has no nutritional value, the animal weakens and dies
Elephants are revered in Hindu religion, but also endangered. The nation's first survey in 2011 revealed only 7500 are alive, down from about 14,000 living in the late 19th century. The government said in 2017 it would recycle waste near wildlife areas and enclose dumps. with electric fencing, butneither action has taken place. The dump in Pallakkadu was set up with aid from the European Union and serves nine villages. It was once surrounded by electric fencing that was damaged in an electrical storm in 2014 but never relaced, allowing elephants to move in. A villagecouncillor told an interviewer that the elephants are considered a menace since villagers often do not know how to repel the large beasts safely. But they are also a resource he concluded, and something should be done to protect them and villagers.