On the occasion of World Elephant Day 2023, the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) recently launched a unique cartoon campaign, created in collaboration with veteran cartoon journalists from national newspapers and news websites in Sri Lanka. This creative initiative aimed to use the power of cartoons as a tool to awaken stakeholders to prioritize elephant conservation and address the ongoing Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in the island.

The campaign’s conceptualization was shared with keen cartoon journalists during a briefing. Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando and Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, two leading elephant researchers and

conservationists, delivered detailed presentations on the importance of elephant conservation and the significance of managing the ongoing human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. This knowledge sharing session set up a perfect foundation to inspire and set creativity alight amongst the participants. 

Sri Lanka is blessed with a long tradition of talented Cartoonists, from the likes of Collette, Wijesoma and Camillus Perera to those of today. In an effort to get the much needed messages on Wild Elephant Conservation, especially of the Human-Elephant Conflict, out to the wider public, the WNPS partnered with several prominent cartoonists representing each media outlet and all three languages, to carry a cartoon addressing this subject in view of World Elephant Day which falls on August 12. With accompanying media articles, it is hoped that this effort will bring the precarious plight of the Sri Lankan Elephant to the attention of the greater majority of the people of this nation. After all, the whole history, nature and culture of this country is intertwined with the elephant. If we let them disappear, we may soon follow.

The campaign commenced on August 7 where the cartoons were published throughout the week leading up to World Elephant Day on 12th August 2023.
Understanding the importance of increasing accessibility to information, commentary and debate to communities all over Sri Lanka, WNPS exhibited the cartoons at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Elephant Transit Home – Udawalawe, Vavuniya University, Royal Botanic Gardens – Peradeniya, Galle Dutch Fort, Galgamuwa Animal Welfare Statue Premises, Ampara Public Market Premises and Uhana town and Nabadagaswewa Junction, Sooriyawewa which were open to the public.

“As an organization deeply committed to wildlife conservation, we believe that creative approaches such as this cartoon campaign can be a powerful catalyst for change,” said Jehan Canagaretna, President of the WNPS. “Our aim is to foster a deeper understanding of the issues faced by elephants and encourage a collective effort towards their conservation.”

“The ability of cartoonists to popularize an idea that cannot be expressed in hundreds of thousands of words in a very short period of time, through their cartoons in a very strong way, and to impress the authorities through that, is indisputable. Our aim is to use this capacity to awaken the interested parties related to the conservation of elephants and the management of elephant-human conflicts in Sri Lanka’ said Supun Lahiru Prakash – Chair, Human-Elephant Coexistence subcommittee of WNPS.
Veteran cartoonists including Asanga Indunil, Dayan Kottachi, DharshanaKarunathilake, R. C. Pradeepkumar, Avantha Atigala, Hasanta Wijenayake, Anjana Indrajith, Mifraz Mussammil, Susil Perera and Vasantha Siriwardena joined in this campaign.