High human and elephant densities leave little room to resolve conflict

- Environment Minister

- By Kelum Bandara

Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about challenges in the mitigation of human-elephant conflict. According to him, Sri Lanka is densely populated both with humans and elephants making matters worse for the wildlife conservation authorities in dealing with the problem. Excerpts:

Sri Lanka is one of the densely populated countries in the region. Likewise, Sri Lanka is the country with the highest density of Asian elephant population in the world. These two factors forms the basis of the crisis. Besides, the successive governments in the past had prioritized commercial interests over conservation of elephants.

Natural habitats of wild elephants had been cleared for economic activities by elements clothed with political authority. The elephant habitats have shrunk in size, denying them sustenance as a result. Now, elephants roam into human habitats in search of fodder.

As for elephant deaths, electrocution is one of the reasons. Politically influential people have put up high voltage electricity fences to protect their croplands cultivated on a commercial scale. The highest number of elephant deaths was reported in 2023.

Over 480 elephants had perished during that year. The number dropped by 100 in 2024, though. Once, we formed our administration in September, 2024, we took steps to reduce elephant deaths.

In the recent past, we witnessed two waves of elephant deathsone during the budgetary debate of the Environment Ministry and the other during July, this year. We suspect an organized attempt to harm elephants in the wild.

On what basis do you suspect such an organized attempt?