The Department of Wildlife Conservation says a site has been identified for the construction of Sri Lanka’s first monkey detention centre near the Kaluganga Reservoir in the Matale District.
The proposed centre will be built on 150 hectares of land and will include facilities for water, food and security. The Department of Wildlife Conservation has recommended the project, and approval has been granted by the Matale District Development Committee.
Wildlife Conservation Officer Chamath Lakshman Perera told the committee that similar monkey detention centres are already in operation in several countries, including Malaysia.
A sum of Rs. 283.87 million has been allocated for the construction of the centre. Authorities have decided to capture monkeys causing damage and relocate them to the facility, while population control measures, including the use of nooses on female monkeys, are also planned.
Officials said the centre will be constructed with strong safety measures to prevent the monkeys from escaping back into the wild. The selected area is reported to have sufficient natural food, and additional food will be provided from outside if required.
