Sri Lanka, Oct. 10 -- The intrusion of wild animals, including peacocks, monkeys, and deer, into Colombo and other urban centres is steadily increasing, according to a report in a leading English newspaper.

Citing Hasini Sarathchandra, an official from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the report highlights loss of natural habitats, disruption of food chains, and declining predator populations as the primary drivers behind this trend. Rapid industrialisation, development activities, and expanding human settlements across the low-country wet zone have drastically reduced wildlife habitats, heightening the risk of human-wildlife conflicts as animals migrate toward residential zones.

The report notes that the peacock population has ...