Wildlife crisis deepens as 239 elephants killed in eight months

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Sri Lanka has reported a staggering 239 elephant deaths within the last eight months owing to a plethora of reasons, Wildlife Department sources said.  

The deaths include 40 from gunshots, 31 from electrocution, 28 from ‘hakka patas’ (explosive devices hidden in food), 04 from poisoning, 05 from train accidents, 06 from a road accident, 11 by drowning, and 07 from other accidents.  

Further, the causes of other deaths are due to natural causes or causes that could not be identified.  

The majority of these deceased elephants are young, the sources added.  

On the other hand, this tragedy extends beyond wildlife, as the ongoing human-elephant conflict has claimed 57 human lives so far this year.  

According to Wildlife Department statistics, 2023 saw the deaths of 488 elephants due to various reasons, including human-elephant conflict, while 184 human fatalities were directly consequent to the conflict.  

Moreover, the sources told the Daily Mirror that the estimated wild elephant population, according to a 2011 survey, was 5,878. However, wildlife authorities now estimate the population ranges between 6,000 and 7,000, although this number is under threat with the current situation.  

Further, the Wildlife Department recently concluded a survey on the elephant population of which the final results are yet to be released.