Dog-Wildlife Conflict in Sri Lanka: a very very basic guide
Dog-Wildlife conflict is an ongoing issue islandwide; an issue that isn’t being managed adequately, leading to negative impacts on wildlife, dogs, and communities alike.
Free-roaming dogs pose multiple threats to wildlife, such as:
- direct predation
- competition for resources such as prey and space (interference competition)
- communicable disease transmission, particularly rabies, distemper and parvo
(This conflict indirectly impacts humans too, particularly the risk of zoonotic disease spread ).
However, the mismanagement of these problems, such as vilifying and ad hoc culling or impounding of street dogs, has no long term effects on population size. According to evidence-based global dog population management experts (ICAM, IFAW, OIE), the following are recommended as strategies to humanely and sustainable reduce free roaming dog populations:
• Mass sterilization & vaccination programs
• Efficient waste removal services
• Community engagement, education & awareness
This requires a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary effort, including local and state government, NGOs, Veterinary teams, wildlife conservationists, dog population management specialists, and communities.
It’s important to remember that free-roaming dogs aren’t the enemy here. They’re doing what any organism is programmed to do: survive. The solution is not to therefore indiscriminately cull or impound dogs. Apart from being cruel, it’s ineffective long term, since a vacuum will be created and more dogs will appear to take their place.
🦚The culpable here, is merely a lack of good policy. We need effective, humane and sustainable systems in place, that benefit all parties involved, especially the animals. The hard work has been done by ICAM, IFAW, OIE and a host of other evidence-based organizations. We just need to follow their evidence-based guidance. And to do this we need the right leadership.
