The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to direct the cattle that have been released to the sanctuaries by those involved in cattle rearing to the farms belonging to the Livestock Board.
The ministry said that people who are engaged in cattle rearing in districts like Hambantota, Monaragala, Ampara are releasing their animals into sanctuaries and forests due to lack of grassy land for cattle.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that buffaloes and cows have been released in the sanctuaries, forests and reserves like Yala, Wilpatthu, Lunugamwehera, Udawalawa, Kabilitta.
The Ministry also says that due to the cows eating the plants in the forests, there is a shortage of food for the rest of the wild animals.
As a side effect, the attack of wild elephants has also increased.
Currently, the amount of milk received by the Livestock Board is decreasing due to the shortage of dairy cows and the sale of dairy cows from countries like Pakistan and India has also been suspended, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
