Abstract
Introduction:Trapping animals with live electric wires is a practice known to be used for protecting the crops from wild animals. Unauthorized cables which are connected to the distributing system of the electricity board are laid on agricultural lands to trap animals such as wild pigs and wild boars. The serious issue is associated with this practice is the accidental entrapment of humans to these traps resulting in injury and death. Methodology:This descriptive study analyzed the socio-demographic profile of the victims, injury patterns, determined the manner of death and the judgments given by the judiciary. Results: The study includes 14 deaths recovered from the agricultural fields with electrocution injuries on which the medico-legal autopsies were conducted by the researchers in two hospitals of the southern province. All the victims were males and the majority was in the 40-60 years. Electric entry marks were present in all on various parts of body. Injury varied due to different mechanisms like trapping, wrapping and griped with the cables. Majority of victims did not have any relationship with culprits. The live wire has been removed from the scene in 10 cases and the bodies were decomposed in 5 cases. Police identified culprits in 9 cases and those were filed in the Magistrate courts and the accused were bailed out. None of the cases directed to high courts. The manner of death was concluded as an accidental. Conclusion:It is important to implement the rules and regulations against the illegal practice of trapping of animals using high voltage electrocution.
Highlights
Trapping animals with live electric wires is a practice known to be used for protecting the crops from wild animals
Electricity is an integral part of mankind and electrical burns are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. They are usually preventable.1, 2When caused by contact with low-or medium voltage electric current, the electric entry mark or Joule burn is an important feature of electrocution.3,4and It is a thermal burn, characterized by a collapsed crater with grey or white ring or an elongated linear groove with elevated margins.4The histology findings of electrocution injuries include separation of epidermis with microblisters, palisading of nuclei within squamous epithelium
Trapping animalsusing electric traps is a known practice used for hunting for food and protecting the crops from wild animalsin Sri Lanka
Summary
Trapping animals with live electric wires is a practice known to be used for protecting the crops from wild animals. Electricity is an integral part of mankind and electrical burns are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality They are usually preventable.1, 2When caused by contact with low-or medium voltage electric current, the electric entry mark or Joule burn is an important feature of electrocution.3,4and It is a thermal burn, characterized by a collapsed crater with grey or white ring or an elongated linear groove with elevated margins.4The histology findings of electrocution injuries include separation of epidermis with microblisters, palisading of nuclei within squamous epithelium. Live non-insulated electric cables,one end of which is connected to the distributing power line are laid across the knowntrails of animals. The deaths following contact with animal traps are observed in several geographical areas of Sri Lanka. This practice has been noted form in several rural areas of Galle and Matara districts of the Southern province
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