Colombo, March 15 -- Sri Lanka conducted its first-ever census of animals considered harmful to agriculture on Saturday, said an official.
Farmers were instructed to count only peacocks, grizzled giant squirrels, toque macaques, and gray langurs during the survey, Tharaka Prasad, director of wildlife health at the Department of Wildlife Conservation, told the media.
The survey focused on land surrounding homes and agricultural areas, documenting the specified animals observed within the brief timeframe, said Prasad, adding that the date, timing, and target species were selected by a panel of experts.
The census employed the point survey method, which collects population data at a specific moment by gathering observations from individuals...