The Mysterious Deaths of Sri Lanka's Beloved Elephants: Unraveling the Cause

Sumitra Malkandi from a farming village in central Sri Lanka recalls the tragic incident when her husband was trampled to death by an elephant while he was feeding their cows outside. The elephant ran away after hearing the cries of the villagers. Malkandi, a mother of three, is still traumatized by the event and fears it could happen again. The village, Thalgaswewa, has become a battleground in the escalating conflict between humans and elephants. Local officials report that in the past two years, three people and ten elephants have been killed in Thalgaswewa and nearby villages alone. The villagers now fear going out of their homes after sunset. However, this issue extends beyond this specific area. Last year, there were 176 human deaths and 470 elephant deaths in Sri Lanka due to human-elephant encounters. As farming expands, it encroaches on elephant habitats, disrupting their food and water sources and putting lives at risk. The destruction of habitat and human-elephant conflict has reached a critical point, endangering Sri Lanka's iconic elephants. Conservationists are urgently calling for action from the government to address this crisis. The high casualty counts for both humans and elephants in 2023 serve as a stark reminder of the fatal consequences when humans and elephants come into contact. The end of the civil war in 2009 led to the release of previously restricted land for farming and settlements, increasing human-elephant encounters. Although killing elephants is illegal in Sri Lanka, farmers resort to lethal measures to protect their crops and themselves. While electric fences are permitted, some farmers illegally set up higher voltage fences and use poison or explosives to drive away elephants. Experts recommend more humane methods, such as cultivating crops that are not attractive to elephants. Sri Lanka's protected habitats are home to an estimated 5,800 elephants, but this number could be lower due to various factors. Elephants typically roam up to 48km a day and are drawn to nearby farms when their natural food sources are scarce. The government has advised against pushing elephants back into shrinking forests, as these areas cannot support a large elephant population. Prithviraj Fernando, the head of an official committee on human-elephant conflict, emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue, as the country's elephant population has severely declined. If the current rate of elephant deaths continues, up to 70% of Sri Lanka's elephants could be lost. Additionally, the large number of male elephant deaths is worrisome, as it puts the species' survival at risk. Experts are also concerned about the lack of information on what is happening inside forests, where factors such as illness, infighting, or drought may contribute to elephant deaths. Meanwhile, Sumitra Malkandi and other villagers in Thalgaswewa live in fear of encountering elephants again, as their presence continues to increase. Urgent action is needed to protect both humans and elephants in Sri Lanka.