A group of plantation workers in Maskeliya area found two tiger cubs in a tea plantation and brought the cubs to be given to the wildlife department.
Highland leopard citings are reported around many tea estates and they hide their cubs in places they think are safe (even near tea estates) and forage during the day. When they see tiger cubs, many people think that they are lost cubs. Therefore, people move them from the place the cubs are hidden, thereby, the cubs are separated from the mother animals. Once humans touch the cubs due to the scent of humans, often the mother rejects the cubs. When a cub is found, it must be kept where it was and inform the Department of Wildlife without touching or moving the cub from the place it was found.
Just my opinion, it is wild life departments responsibility to educate the workers on this matter. To protect the wild life as well as human life.
------ Post added on Jul 19, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Highland leopard citings are reported around many tea estates and they hide their cubs in places they think are safe (even near tea estates) and forage during the day. When they see tiger cubs, many people think that they are lost cubs. Therefore, people move them from the place the cubs are hidden, thereby, the cubs are separated from the mother animals. Once humans touch the cubs due to the scent of humans, often the mother rejects the cubs. When a cub is found, it must be kept where it was and inform the Department of Wildlife without touching or moving the cub from the place it was found.
Just my opinion, it is wild life departments responsibility to educate the workers on this matter. To protect the wild life as well as human life.
------ Post added on Jul 19, 2023 at 11:32 AM
