The wild elephant population in the country has exceeded 7,000, the Wildlife Department said.

The details were revealed following discussions held at the ministry yesterday and said, so far the number of wild elephants in the country is said to be around 5,600.

"A decrease in the number of tusked elephants in Sri Lanka was also reported. The Wildlife Department also stated that the number of tuskers in Sri Lanka's forests is currently 142," the Minister said.

However, recent media reports said that about 350 wild elephants roaming around Minneriya, Girithale, and Parakrama Samudraya are missing.

Wildlife officials emphasised that because Giritale, Minneriya, and Parakrama Samudra have been full of water this year, the area where wild elephants come to get food in the surrounding lakesides has been full of water, and a large number of wild elephants have moved to other areas in search of food.

It was also revealed that due to the changing of habitats by the wild elephants, the damage caused by wild elephants to the people in those areas too have increased. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)