Sri Lanka’s latest national animal census, conducted on March 15, 2025, has revealed that the country is home to 5.19 million Toque monkeys, Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Namal Karunarathne told Parliament.
The census also recorded:
- 1.75 million Langur monkeys
- 4.28 million Peacocks
- 2.67 million Giant Squirrels
Dismissing claims that the project cost exceeded Rs. 70 million, the Deputy Minister clarified that the actual expenditure was only Rs. 3.916 million.
Responding to a question from MP Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, he said the survey was undertaken to develop a scientific policy response to crop damage caused by wild animals, noting that this was the first such census of crop-damaging species in the country.
He added that the findings have already been used to map animal populations by district, highlighting the highest concentrations of the four species. These maps, he said, will help authorities design strategies to minimize crop lossesand formulate evidence-based recommendations for mitigating the impact of these animals on agriculture.
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