Abstract:
The Kudawa Grama Niladari (GN) division in Kalawana Divisional secretaries in the
Ratnapura district spans six square kilometers and includes five villages viz., Kudawa,
Petiyakanda, Pitakele, Buthkanda and Ketalapatwala with 789 population. This GN
division is basically an agrarian area and most of the land is used for tea and paddy
cultivation. The research focuses on examining the socio-economic background of the
selected villages for the study and damage on cultivation by wild animals.
The data were collected through questioner surveying, interviewing, and participatory
observation methods. The study reveals that wild animals’ intrusion upon villages has
influenced on reducing the productivity of land. As well, the lives of both villagers and
domestic animals are endangered by such intrusions. A gradual increase in wild animal
intrusion upon human settlements and cultivated lands is observed due to several causes.
The foremost causes are identified as clearing of natural forest area, encroachment on
the forestland for crop, especially mono-crop cultivation, and lack of provisions within the
forest for wild animals. In order to address these issues, reforestation of peripheral areas of
forest, with endemic flora species, which can be consumed by people and animals,
constructing of fences to protect croplands and strengthening of government laws and
regulations to protect habitats of wild animals are important.
