Do they kill elephants using the App? Why that question misses the point entirely

“Do they use the app to kill elephants?” It’s a question that's been floating around social media and public discourse lately. But for those involved in the field-people who've spent years working to mitigate human-elephant conflict the question seems not only absurd but dangerously misinformed.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

“It’s hard not to laugh,” says Vinura Abeyrathne, the youngster who cereated the Elephant App, with the support of team members who helped craft Sri Lanka’s National Policy for Minimising Human-Elephant Conflict (2020). “Because if that was really the case, what were people using during the past 70 years when elephants were shot? They didn't have an app then, did they?”

Vinura, along with Wildlife Ranger Saman Hallholuwa, is part of a team behind the Elephant Journey mobile app, a community-based conservation tool aimed at increasing public awareness and real-time reporting of elephant movements to reduce conflict and improve safety for both humans and elephants.

The app’s core philosophy is built around a powerful truth: “Awareness is conservation.”

“This isn’t just about knowing an elephant is nearby,” Vinura explains. “It’s about helping people respond smarter, safer. If a farmer knows a wild elephant is near his field, he can take steps to protect himself and avoid confrontation.”

But like any new technology, especially in rural settings, skepticism and resistance are expected. “When online learning came along, people doubted that too. But now it’s a part of everyday life,” he adds.

The Data Behind the Deaths

Vinura has combed through years of data on elephant deaths in Sri Lanka. What he found was revealing: