Over 4,000 wild elephants have died in Sri Lanka over the past 14 years, highlighting an escalating human-elephant conflict fuelled by illegal activities and habitat loss.
The grim statistics were shared by Sameera Weeratunga of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project on Friday (29), following the death of the tusker Deega Danthu 1, who was fatally injured by an illegally laid electric fence in Andiyagala.
Weeratunga said that 4,194 elephants have perished since 2010, with 2023 alone accounting for more than 470 deaths. “Most of these deaths are caused by electrocution, explosives and gunshots,” he said, adding that over 200 elephants have already died this year. He also highlighted gaps in legal enforcement and a lackadaisical attitude among state officials, exacerbating the crisis.
He said that the death toll underscores the severe pressures facing Sri Lanka’s elephant population. “National parks lack adequate food for these animals, and forestlands are increasingly being encroached upon,” Weeratunga said. Elephants, which typically roam up to 48 kilometers a day and remain close to water sources, often wander into cultivated land during droughts or when protected areas fail to meet their dietary needs, intensifying conflicts with local communities.
Sri Lanka’s elephant population, estimated at around 5,800, has dwindled by nearly 65% since the 19th century, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature. Wildlife experts fear the actual numbers could be even lower due to inconsistent monitoring. A decade ago, around 250 elephants were lost annually, but the numbers have sharply risen, surpassing 400 deaths for the second consecutive year. At this rate, experts warn that up to 70% of Sri Lanka’s elephants could vanish in the coming decades.
Prithviraj Fernando, head of a committee tasked with addressing the human-elephant conflict, stated that a National Action Plan was drafted in 2020 but remained dormant during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis. “The sharp rise in elephant deaths has infused a sense of urgency to revive the plan,” Fernando said, stressing the need for immediate implementation to curb the losses.
