Sri Lanka’s human-elephant conflict hits breaking point: WNPS demands action, not excuses

As Sri Lanka marks World Elephant Day, the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS) underscores both the urgency of the human-elephant conflict (HEC) crisis and the practical solutions underway to address it. 

Between 2000 and 2024, Sri Lanka lost approximately 6,470 elephants, according to data from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). Despite ongoing efforts, these devastating losses show no signs of slowing, highlighting the critical need for stronger conservation measures and innovative strategies to address HEC and safeguard both elephant and human lives. Alarmingly, the first six months of 2025 have already seen over 250 elephant deaths, a stark reminder that peaceful coexistence remains one of the country’s most urgent and complex conservation challenges.

Action, not rhetoric

The WNPS Human-Elephant Coexistence Subcommittee has consistently pressed for the full implementation of the National Action Plan for the Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict (NAP), calling for a Presidential Task Force with the authority and funding to drive policy into practice. Despite delays, the Society’s leadership continues high-level engagement with government officials, pushing for urgent adoption of long-term mitigation strategies.

Community-centred, science-driven solutions

Notable successes in sustainable HEC management:

• Light Repel System (LRS) trials – Operating with 82% effectiveness across six districts, the LRS deters elephants from crop raids using solar-powered light technology. WNPS is maintaining existing systems, expanding monitoring, and preparing peer-reviewed research for publication in 2025.
• Ehetuwewa project – In partnership with CMA CGM Lanka, WNPS has enhanced village safety through 13 solar-powered streetlamps, 8 LRS installations, community infrastructure upgrades, and awareness campaigns. The pilot was strengthened with Wildlife Conservation International joining the initiative in 2025; it offers direct benefits and incentives to participating farmers, helping to shift local perceptions of elephants in a positive direction. The project also aims to promote coexistence by linking farmers to elephant-viewing tourism. 
• Legal action – WNPS continues to take decisive legal action to protect Sri Lanka’s elephants and address drivers of HEC since 2017. In 2020, WNPS filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal to challenge the Government’s decision to distribute firearms to Civil Defence Force personnel in HEC-affected areas, warning that it risked escalating violence against wildlife. The Society has also lodged legal objections to the unsustainable management of the Minneriya and Kaudulla reservoirs, where altered water release patterns linked to the Moragahakanda project caused the tanks to remain filled year-round. This change deprived elephants of the fresh grass shoots that once flourished during the dry season, feeding grounds that formed the heart of the world-renowned “Elephant Gathering.” In 2022, WNPS campaigned against the construction of deep earth trenches, citing their ineffectiveness as a mitigation method and the severe risks they pose to both elephants and other wildlife. Building on these interventions, WNPS is preparing three additional legal cases to strengthen protections for elephants and reduce future conflict, reaffirming its commitment to conservation through the rule of law.

Building tolerance and resilience

Recognising that HEC is as much a socio-economic crisis as it is a wildlife one, WNPS partnered with Spa Ceylon and launched the Gaja Nena Sahana Scholarship Program on World Elephant Day 2024. This initiative supports children who have lost a parent to HEC, providing monthly scholarships until they complete secondary education – a first in Sri Lanka’s conservation landscape.

In addition, WNPS continues to:

• Conduct awareness workshops for farming communities, undergraduates, and schoolchildren, shifting attitudes toward coexistence.
• Pilot early-warning GPS collar systems with the DWC’s Elephant Transit Home to enable pre-emptive action when elephants approach human settlements.

Knowledge-sharing platforms

The Society’s annual gathering brought together local and international experts, including renowned Asian elephant specialist Prof. Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, to exchange best practices in coexistence strategies. These sessions foster collaboration between government, academia, and communities – a vital foundation for lasting change.

Looking ahead

Despite progress, WNPS warns of mounting pressure to reverse evidence-based policies, such as the reintroduction of elephant drives. The Society will continue to resist counterproductive measures and strengthen:

• Policy advocacy for science-led national strategies, including integrating LRS into official HEC frameworks.
• Community participation through education and awareness, elephant viewing tourism initiatives, and school programmes in high-conflict areas.
• Research and innovation, including finalising LRS trial publications and exploring new mitigation technologies.

WNPS Past President and Chair of the Human-Elephant Coexistence Subcommittee Jehan Canagaretna notes: “We cannot afford short-term fixes or political dependency. Sri Lanka’s elephants are a global treasure, but their survival depends on strategies that protect both wildlife and farmer livelihoods. Our work shows that coexistence is possible – but it demands persistence, policy, and partnership.”

As Sri Lanka reflects on another World Elephant Day, WNPS calls on all stakeholders – from policymakers to rural communities – to unite behind proven, practical measures. In the fight to prevent further loss of life, the time for decisive, collective action is now.