Sri Lanka began a wildlife census on Saturday to count monkeys, peacocks and giant squirrels, aiming to manage their populations as farmers complain of agricultural losses. Agriculture accounts for 8% of the country's economy and employs 8.

Sri Lanka began a wildlife census to count monkeys, peacocks, and giant squirrels to manage their populations due to their threat to agriculture. Crop destruction has seriously affected coconut production,

Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide census Saturday of nuisance wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, in a bid to prepare countermeasures to protect crops, officials said.

ECONOMYNEXT – People in Sri Lanka counted monkeys, squirrels, and peacocks within five minutes in the first ever island-wide census on animals damaging crops. The government urged the public to count four crop-damaging animals in their home garden, farmlands, premises, and all the land area other than forests from 0800-0805 hours on Saturday (15).

Sri Lanka conducted its first-ever island-wide census to count monkeys, squirrels, and peacocks to mitigate agricultural losses. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratna emphasized the enthusiastic public participation.

The census conducted this morning was a success with wide participation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratna told reporters.