By Kithuni Katugampola
Whether you visit the picturesque shores of the island, the hotspot waterholes, or expanses of lush cultivations, you cannot ignore the excessive plastic and polythene that mar the scenic beauty of the landscape. This unethical practice of plastic use and improper disposal not only cripples the natural process of the Earth’s cycles, but also has adverse effects on mankind and more importantly, wildlife.
The latest initiative by the Ministry of Environment to rectify this issue is to work towards banning the importation of certain plastic and polythene products. When approached by The Sunday Morning Brunch to discuss this initiative, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera stated that he and his team are working towards getting approval to ban the importation of certain plastic items, and if not successful, to incorporate a heavy tax that will discourage the importing of plastic goods.
A dangerous lifestyle
The decision to implement this ban was taken with the goal of guiding Sri Lanka towards a more sustainable lifestyle. “In most homes, the food is eaten from a plastic plate, drinks are taken in plastic cups, water is stored in plastic containers,” shared Amaraweera. He went on to explain the severity of plastic usage in the country. “These items, so easily discarded, only cause further damage, impacting our wildlife.” The Minister stated that by banning the importation of selected items and products, they hope to control the excessive and unnecessary usage of plastic in the country.
“Plastic, when disposed of into water bodies, breaks apart to form microplastics, which is inevitably consumed by wildlife. The presence of the non-biodegradable waste matter that remains messes up the balance of the ecosystem,” commented marine conservation organisation The Pearl Protectors Co-ordinator Muditha Katuwawala.
Impact of plastic on wildlife
In the more rural regions of the island, the human settlements seamlessly blend with that of the wild. It is not uncommon to spot roaming peacocks, a tentative deer, or the regal elephant making an appearance away from their habitats in the wild. These creatures come out looking for a food source, and often find it in our castaways. Meals they find alongside plastic wrappings, lunch sheets, polythene bags, and other non-degradable items lead to indigestion, suffocation, and tragically, death. An elephant was once found with 30 kg of plastic in its intestines. This is the intensity of the problem we face, simply owing to non-degradable items not being disposed of responsibly. The plastic usage and proper disposal systems undoubtedly warrant attention and the incorporation of preventive measures.
Threats to elephant conservation
From postcards to souvenirs, the image of the elephant is interwoven with the identity of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is one of the three subspecies of the Asian elephant and is native to Sri Lanka.
A very majestic species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) has recognised them as endangered. To understand the crisis we face in the light of elephant conservation, we approached Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR) Chairman Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando and Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) Human-Elephant Co-existence Committee Chair Jehan Canagaretna.
In the year 2019, the deaths of 405 elephants were recorded, of which 384 were a result of human-elephant conflict (HEC). 45% of the deaths that occurred due to HEC were a result of gunshots or what is known as “hakka patas”. “Hakka patas” is a term coined for a mechanism where fruits with explosives in them are left for the elephants. Tragically, these explosives detonate pre, mid, and post-consumption.
With over 70% of the elephant population being close to human habitats, HEC is the biggest problem in elephant conservation. This is a two-sided issue where on one hand the elephants are being forced out for the lack of a home or in search of sustenance and on the other, the livelihood and safety of humans are compromised by the presence of the other; by no means a simple conflict to solve, the journey towards a permanent solution requires manpower in order to be executed.
However dire the situation may seem, the Government seems to be taking actions towards this. In July, a presidential task force was formed to mitigate the HEC. Dr. Fernando, who is a part of this task force, stated that measures will be taken in the coming months to address the conflict effectively.
Conservation in the light of the ban
Without a doubt, the actions taken to minimise the use of plastic is a necessary step that must be taken towards the goal of a sustainable lifestyle; banning the importation of plastic is one such action. But how effective is it towards elephant conservation? With the demanding matter being the HEC along with the lack of resources to track down the impact of plastic on elephants, the severity of it is undetermined.
In light of the ban and its impact on elephants, we asked some people to share their opinions with us.
Colombo School of Arts and Sciences Principal Shaleeka Jayalath expressed her thoughts on the matter, saying: “My personal opinion is that more emphasis should be placed on 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle). Especially in poorer communities, plastic can be a cheaper and more practical solution. However, I agree that its use has to be restricted. So reduce, but don’t get rid of it altogether. We, as consumers, have far more than we need. So, reduce, reuse, recycle. Buy plastic only as a long-term solution. Get rid of the cling film, but keep the plastic lunch boxes that can be reused.”
Nadine Lakshmi, who is passionate about polythene and plastic use, voiced her thoughts.
“As they did with the alternatives to plastic the last time around, would this be enforced/implemented effectively? If so, would these have a way of affecting wildlife as well if discarded irresponsibly? Overall, something has to be done. And this moment is as good as any to hit us, thereby forcing us into thinking and adapting for all living beings. It’s a soft start but it is a start.”
Taanya Tranchell went about expressing her perspective this way: “I think the problem is more on the surface – handling the plastic and the polythene. I personally can’t imagine how we could remove/eliminate plastic and polythene from our lives. If we try to use substitutes, the cost will be way too much and also trees will be cut more because the consumption of wood will increase sharply. So, in all honesty, I think if we can handle plastic and polythene better, especially choosing to reuse and dispose of it in a better way, that would be a better alternative than actually trying to stop (using) polythene and plastic (altogether) and have the cost of things increase even more.”
The Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) in Sri Lanka Co-Founder and Managing Trustee Anjali Watson supported the implementation of the ban, saying: “The reduction in the use of plastic items and especially the banning of plastic siri siri bags is long overdue. Their rampant use is endangering our landscapes as they are discarded all over and get into our ground and surface water, clog up drainage systems, attach to vegetation, and cause deadly harm to animals that inadvertently ingest these plastics. We must collectively, as a society, reduce and then stop the use of these plastics. It can be done.”
In conclusion
There are various obstacles facing elephant conservation. While HEC is still at large, the fact that it is being addressed towards being completely mitigated is quite encouraging. Although the consumption of polythene and plastic by elephants does not take centre stage, it is yet a grave subject that not only affects elephants but all wildlife alike. The damage it causes to our ecosystems is appalling.
These issues can only be rectified if both the Government and the public maintain a united front. We have a long way to go in terms of making our country’s practices more environmentally friendly. Yet, each small step has a deep impact, much like a small piece of plastic that causes immense damage, don’t you think?
