Wild Horses

The Delft island represent the harmonious living of human being and the animals as one part of the island is dedicated for the wild horses and ponies roaming freely in the island. These wild creatures are living harmoniously with the people sharing the resources available in the island.

As the dry season comes, the Delft Pradeshiya Sabha personnel with the support from Delft Divisional Secretariat usually provide water by filling the tanks constructed in certain locations of the island, for the wild horses and also the cows. This enables these wild creatures survive during the dry weather. But many wild horses, ponies and cows can be found dead during extreme dry season but with the start of the rainy season in September lot calves of ponies and wild horses can be found in the greener pastures. Both human beings and the animals depend on the fresh water supply at ‘Devil’s Well’ the only fresh water source in the island and Government officials assist both animals and the human being to get their required drinking water from them.

The dry pasture lands of Delft Island are characterized by the dense growth of short grasses (up to 5 cm in height) forming a green carpet that spreads over large areas of the island landscape. The structure and floristic composition of the grassland system is influenced considerably by grazing pressure, trampling, high salinity and drought.

Dry pastures are indispensable, given the important role they play in sustaining the wild pony and cattle populations of the island. Many graminivorous birds can also be seen feeding in these grasslands. As with other open vegetation types, dry pasture lands stabilize the soil, as they produce mat-like vegetation cover, while the roots of these grasses hold the soil together, preventing erosion. The pasture lands also function as efficient filters and trap surface runoff.

Contact Person: Delft Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary

Contact no: 0212215211