Tamil Tigers’ jungle base to be a wildlife refuge

The former jungle stronghold of the rebel Tamil Tigers is to become a wildlife sanctuary, Sri Lanka's government said today.

The move, a year and a half after the civil war ended, will see 100,000 acres in the Mullaitivu district being used for conservation, including elephants.

More than 1.5 million Tamil land mines will have to be cleared. A wildlife department official said the area would be opened to the public only after mines are removed - likely to be next year.

The government also said the sanctuary would help solve the problem of wild elephants entering villages in search of food as deforestation destroys their natural habitats.

Elephants killed 50 people in Sri Lanka last year and villagers have killed 228 by shooting or electrocuting them, according to government figures.