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,

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.

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.

Sri Lanka has begun a wildlife census to count monkeys, peacocks and giant squirrels, aiming to manage their populations as farmers complain of agricultural losses. Agriculture accounts for eight per cent of the country's economy and employs 8.1 million people, government data shows.

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