Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday, 22 July 2025 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Last week, Sri Lanka lost one of its most iconic and rare wild tuskers, Bhatiya, a majestic giant that had roamed the forests for decades. This magnificent creature died after weeks of suffering from a gunshot wound, a tragic symbol of the escalating human-elephant conflict that continues to claim lives—both animal and human.
The tusker’s death, along with three other elephant fatalities reported in the same week, underscores the urgent need to adopt a more effective, science-driven approach to wildlife management.
The human-elephant conflict (HEC) is not a new phenomenon in Sri Lanka. For decades, expanding human settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure have led to the fragmentation of elephant habitats. These animals, who have walked these lands long before our modern developments, find themselves increasingly cornered, forced into human territories in search of food and space. The result is frequent confrontations that end in loss of life, livelihoods, and the slow decimation of an irreplaceable species.
Despite the gravity of the situation, efforts to address this crisis remain fragmented and underpowered. The first step in crafting a sound conservation strategy is understanding the scale of the problem. To this end, the island-wide elephant census conducted in 2024 was a critical initiative. However, as of now, the results of this census have not been made public. This delay hampers the formulation of effective policy and undermines public trust in wildlife management authorities.
The country urgently needs a national elephant conservation plan that is based on solid scientific data—beginning with accurate information on population size, distribution, and migratory patterns. Without this foundational knowledge, interventions are likely to be misdirected, inefficient, or even counterproductive.
Equally important is the need to learn from international best practices. Countries such as Kenya, India, and Thailand have experimented with a variety of management strategies, from electric fencing and community-based conservation to the use of modern technology like GPS tracking and AI-powered warning systems. While controversial methods such as culling and trophy hunting may not be culturally or ethically acceptable in Sri Lanka due to its deep-rooted reverence for elephants, there are numerous humane and sustainable alternatives that can be adapted to the local context.
For example, participatory conservation, where local communities are incentivised to protect elephants and their habitats, has shown remarkable success in other parts of the world. Ecotourism is another promising avenue. As a flagship species, elephants draw significant attention from tourists and the global community. If managed sustainably, elephant-focused tourism can provide livelihoods to local communities while generating funds for conservation efforts.
Moreover, the ecological role of elephants as a keystone species cannot be overstated. By shaping forests, dispersing seeds, and maintaining open grasslands, elephants support a wide range of biodiversity. Protecting them, therefore, means protecting the entire ecosystem—a legacy that benefits not just wildlife but future generations.
What is needed is a comprehensive, science-based strategy backed by political will, adequate funding, and community involvement. Authorities must prioritise the release and transparent analysis of the 2024 census data. Conservation programs must be data-driven and inclusive. And most importantly, the country must foster a culture of coexistence—where humans and elephants share the land not in conflict, but in harmony.
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