Poachers in Sri Lanka are using poison in water holes to kill wildlife for meat, a practice that continues to pose a significant threat to animals. During droughts, wildlife congregates around dwindling water sources, making them vulnerable to poisoned water.
In one incident in July 2023, wildlife officers discovered 17 deer carcasses near an empty agrochemical bag, indicating poisoning. An earlier incident in 2016, which tragically resulted in the death of a wildlife ranger during an arrest, highlighted the lethal chain of events associated with this poaching method. The practice turns essential water resources into traps, leading to the deaths of numerous animals, including pregnant does and their unborn fawns.
Source: Mongabay