With over 400 killed every year, the survival of Sri Lanka’s iconic elephant is at risk
In most cases, they die electrocuted, blown up or shot at in an increasingly difficult relationship with humans. A 2020 protection plan has remained unimplemented due to the country’s economic crisis.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – In Sri Lanka more than 4,000 wild elephants have died in the last 14 years, this according to Sameera Weeratunga of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project, who released the information following the death of elephant Deega Danthu 1, fatally injured by an illegal electric fence in Andiyagala, North Central Province.
This case has put the spotlight on the growing conflict between humans and elephants, fuelled by illegal activities and habitat loss, with environmentalists openly warning of the risk of extinction of these animals.
Since 2010, 4,194 elephants have died, 470 in 2023 alone. “Most of these deaths are caused by electrocution, explosives and gunshots,” said Weeratunga.
Gaps in legal enforcement and a half-hearted attitude among state officials have exacerbated the problem. What is more, “National parks lack adequate food for these animals, and forestlands are increasingly being encroached upon,” he added.
According to the Worldwide Fund (WWF), Sri Lanka’s elephant population, estimated at approximately 5,800, has dwindled by nearly 65 per cent since the 19th century. Wildlife experts fear the actual numbers could be even lower due to inconsistent monitoring.
A decade ago, approximately, 250 elephants were lost annually. At present, the numbers have sharply increased, more than 400 deaths for the second consecutive year. At this rate, experts believe that up to 70 per cent of Sri Lanka’s elephants could vanish in the coming decade.
A “plan was drafted in 2020, yet, it remained dormant during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis,” said Prithviraj Fernando, head of a committee tasked with addressing the human-elephant conflict. However, “the sharp increase in elephant deaths has infused a sense of urgency to revive the plan” and to implement it immediately, to curb the losses as the elephant is a symbol of pride, cultural and religious significance to Sri Lankans.
To this end, “the Terrestrial Protected Areas (PAs) of Sri Lanka have been established with the objective of conserving the island’s rich biodiversity, including elephants,” noted Aruna Pilapitiya and Pubudu Mitthapala, two senior academics who spoke to AsiaNews.
“These PAs are administered by the Department of Forest Conservation (DFC) and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), with the conservation and management of the elephant population falling under the purview of DWC. The area governed by these two institutions covers over 28 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total land area.”
Environmentalists Sriyantha Ambanpitiya and Dinithi Samarasekara warn that “human-induced habitat loss and habitat fragmentation driven by rising deforestation, high population density, urbanisation, including high levels of poverty and Sri Lanka’s agro-based economy have contributed to the creation and intensification of human-elephant conflict.”
In addition, “This issue is further complicated by the deficiency of expertise among policy-makers on ecosystem services and issues in Protected Area (PA) Management.”
Photo: Flickr / Aardwolf6886
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29/07/2020 16:00
29/09/2018 07:59
