Drones Driving Away Mannar’s Migrant Birds

Mannar, a migratory haven for birds, is now seeing an invasion of birdwatchers armed with drones, to the dismay of wildlife enthusiasts.

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is now working to urgently have the area declared as a no-fly zone and reaching out to the authorities towards this end, WNPS President Spencer Manuelpillai told The Sunday Morning yesterday (29).

In a letter to Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAA) CEO/Director General Captain Themiya Abeywickrama sent last morning (29), WNPS General Secretary Jehan Canagaretna has stated: “We appeal to you and the relevant authorities for an immediate declaration of the Mannar wetlands area as a no fly zone to prevent impending disaster. We would also request that the same prohibition be applied to other protected areas and the strict code of conduct be communicated through a campaign, to which the WNPS would extend its support for implementation.”

The letter was copied to Ministry of Tourism Secretary Siri Hettiarachchi, Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara and DWC Director – Operations Ranjan Marasinghe.