Italian Professor admits they collected species
An Italian father and son have been fined Rs. 60 million by the Thissamaharama Magistrate’s Court for illegally collecting insects that are endemic to Sri Lanka.
Magistrate Tharindu Tamira Silva, imposed a fine of six million one hundred eighty thousand rupees on Professor Peraria Luigi and his son, Peraria Mattia after they admitted to collecting protected species, including butterflies and dragonflies, from the Kataragama Kochi Pathana reserve.
The two were caught by wildlife officials last May in the Kataragama Kocchipatana area. They were found with 92 species of butterflies and 160 animals from nine species of dragonflies. Investigations showed that they planned to chemically preserve the insects, pack them in wax bags, and smuggle them out of the country. It was also discovered that they had used animal attractants to trap the insects.
Probably the highest wildlife fine
They were charged with the illegal collection, possession, and transportation of 101 protected species, as outlined by the Fauna and Flora Ordinance, both inside and outside Sri Lanka’s prime wildlife park, Yala National Park. The Italians pleaded guilty, and the court fined them Rs. 60 million, with a penalty of two years in rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid. A Sri Lanka’s wildlife official said this fine would probably be the highest ever fine charged in wildlife history.
The arrest and court proceedings were carried out by a team of officials led by Yala National Park Warden Manoj Vidyarathne and Kataragama Kocchipatana site guard K. Sujeeva, under the direction of Assistant Wildlife Director in charge of the Uva Zone, ADD Indrajith.
