The administration of the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala has decided to request additional security personnel following the recent theft of a rare Blue-and-Yellow Macaw.

The theft took place on the night of 4 June, when one of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, valued at over Rs. 500,000, was stolen from its cage. Closed circuit television camera footage from a nearby shop captured a person suspected of carrying out the theft.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, National Zoological Gardens Director General Dr. Chandana Rajapaksa said that there are currently 12 security officers assigned, which he said matches the approved cadre. However, he said that all of them are not on duty at the same time, and that it is evident that the existing security setup needs to be strengthened.

“We are planning to improve the overall security arrangements. Although 12 is the approved number of security officers, given the nature of the duties and shifts, we understand that it’s necessary to bring in more personnel. So, we’ve decided to request help from an institution like the Civil Defence Force to increase the number of security officers on site,” he said.

According to zoo officials, there have been 30 Blue-and-Yellow Macaws in the bird enclosure at the time of the theft in question. The zookeeper had discovered the cage’s lock broken when reporting for duty the next morning. After informing the senior staff, a headcount had confirmed that one of the birds was missing. 

A complaint was then filed at the Dehiwala Police Station by a zoo security officer. Back in August 2021, another Macaw from the same cage had gone missing and was later discovered in a residence in Ratmalana.