CEJ urges to halt haphazard elephant drives

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has requested the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to immediately halt all unsystematic elephant drives as a measure to address the human-elephant conflict (HEC).

In a letter of demand, the CEJ stated that the methods adopted by the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation appear to lack a systematic and scientific basis, as well as ecological foresight, leading to unintended and far-reaching consequences for both elephants and human settlements. 

“Elephants are keystone species with complex social structures led by matriarchs. The implementation of forced elephant drives without prior studies on the herd composition, movement patterns and ecological dynamics raises significant concerns. Elephants are highly social animals with complex social structures, including matriarch-led herds consisting of adults, sub-adults and calves. The forced movement of herds at accelerated speeds often results in the abandonment or stranding of vulnerable individuals such as older elephants and calves who are unable to keep pace with the group. This fragmentation not only disrupts the herd's natural cohesion but also leaves these stranded individuals highly vulnerable to starvation, dehydration and predation”, the Letter of Demand added.

The CEJ stated that relocation of herds to unfamiliar territories through drives disrupts their access to known water sources and foraging areas. Elephants are creatures of habit and depend on their knowledge of the terrain to meet their dietary needs. By driving herds into unfamiliar and often resource-scarce regions, these practices deprive elephants of access to sufficient sustenance, leading to malnutrition, stress and increased mortality.

The CEJ warned that it reserves the right to initiate legal action to prevent further harm to Sri Lanka’s elephants and ecosystems if the Department of Wildlife Conservation fails to comply with this demand.