More than 400 die every year, a symbolic animal in danger

In most cases they are killed with electric shocks, explosives and gunshots. Coexistence with men is increasingly difficult. A protection plan that was drawn up in 2020 has so far not been implemented due to the economic crisis.

Colombo () – More than 4,000 wild elephants have died in Sri Lanka in the last 14 years, according to data presented a few days ago by Sameera Weeratunga, of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project, after the death of the injured elephant “Deega Danthu 1”. fatally by an illegal electric fence in Andiyagala, in the north-central province. What happened has highlighted the growing conflict between humans and elephants, fueled by illegal activities and habitat loss, and environmentalists are warning about the risk of extinction of these animals.

Weeratunga explained that “since 2010, 4,194 elephants have died; In 2023 alone, 470 animals died and more than 200 in the first part of 2024. In most cases they died from electric shocks, explosives and gunshots. Deficiencies in law enforcement and the lackadaisical attitude of state officials have worsened the crisis. National parks also do not have enough suitable food for these animals and forest lands are increasingly encroached upon.”

According to WWF, Sri Lanka’s elephant population, estimated at around 5,800, has declined by almost 65% since the 19th century. Wildlife experts fear the actual numbers could be even lower because monitoring is not constant. Ten years ago, about 250 elephants were lost per year. Currently, the numbers have increased dramatically, exceeding 400 deaths for the second year in a row. At this rate, scientists believe that up to 70% of Sri Lanka’s elephants could disappear in the coming decades.”

As Prithviraj Fernando, head of the commission tasked with formulating a National Action Plan to address human-elephant conflict, recently stated, “A project was presented in 2020 but was not implemented due to the country’s economic crisis. However, the sharp increase in elephant deaths makes it necessary to reactivate and implement it immediately, because the elephant is also a symbol of pride and has a strong cultural and religious meaning for the inhabitants of Sri Lanka.”

Specialists Aruna Pilapitiya and Pubudu Mitthapala explain to that “Sri Lanka’s terrestrial protected areas were created with the aim of conserving the island’s rich biodiversity, including elephants. These areas are managed by the Department of Forest Conservation and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and cover more of 28% of the country’s total area. There is a close relationship between wild elephants and humans, but today this relationship is in crisis,” say Aruna and Pubudu.

According to conservationists Sriyantha Ambanpitiya and Dinithi Samarasekara, “habitat loss due to human action with increased deforestation, high population density, high levels of poverty and the development of Sri Lanka’s agri-food economy, have contributed to intensify the conflict. But the lack of powers of political leaders on issues related to the management of protected areas also aggravates the problem.

Photo: Flickr / Aardwolf6886