lSri Lanka’s Parliament revealed yesterday (06th) that 3,477 wild elephants have died over the past nine years due to the ongoing human-elephant conflict.
Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi presented a report showing that 1,466 elephant fatalities occurred between 2015 and 2019, while the number rose to 2,011 from 2020 to 2024.
The conflict has also resulted in significant human casualties, with 1,190 people losing their lives in elephant attacks during the same period. Of these, 456 fatalities occurred from 2015 to 2019, and 734 between 2020 and 2024.
In response to a parliamentary question, Dr. Patabendi acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the challenges faced by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in managing the crisis.
He assured that adequate funding would be allocated in the upcoming budget to address the situation. The government is also exploring innovative solutions through research and collaboration with relevant institutions to protect both human lives and wildlife.
