Are our elephants safe?

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75 jumbos perish in just two months in this year
Haphazard watching puts elephants’ lives in danger
Latest survey revealed that elephant population increased by 28%

Colombo, March 6 (Daily Mirror) - Amidst the rising population of wild elephants in Sri Lanka and the alarming rate of elephant deaths, reckless tourism practices continue to endanger these tuskers and disrupt their natural habitats.

This is evident with the incidents where tourists are taken to observe wild elephants in haphazard way, particularly in areas like Dambulla, Habarana, Minneriya, Sigiriya, and Kaudulla.

Safari jeeps and other vehicles frequently stop dangerously close to the elephants, disturbing them in their natural habitat and creating obstructions on busy roads. Drivers of other vehicles have accused the authorities of turning a blind eye to these hazardous practices despite repeated complaints.

Authorities, including the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the police have been urged to take stricter action against both unethical safari practices and activities that lead to elephant deaths.

However, enforcement remains a challenge due to a shortage of officials. Habarana Range Forest Officer B.A.K.C. Bamunusinghe acknowledged that while regulations exist for safari operators and tour guides, monitoring their activities has proven difficult.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, a staggering 75 elephant deaths have been reported in just the last two months.

These deaths include 14 from gunshots, 10 from electrocution, five from explosives hidden in food (‘hakka patas’) and nine from train accidents.

Other deaths were due to natural causes or unidentified reasons. In 2024, a total of 388 wild elephant deaths were reported, while 488 deaths were recorded in 2023.

According to statistics, some 3,527 elephants died during the last ten years.

Meanwhile, a recent elephant census conducted in August 2024 revealed that Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population has increased by 28% since the last survey in 2011, bringing the total to a minimum of 7,451 elephants.

Comments - 5

Peter Thursday, 06 March 2025 10:35 AM

Elephant safe ? Are u safe in srilankan as civilian ?

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Lion Thursday, 06 March 2025 10:53 AM

It’s happy. to say that this government is doing something constructive to prevent it

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“The Lansi Burgher Gent” Thursday, 06 March 2025 01:29 PM

Are our majestic elephants safe? A simple answer - no, they aren’t. Get cracking and do something about it now, before it’s too late. This goes for the welfare and safety of both captive and wild elephants. Stop using these innocent animals in ‘Peraheras,’ stop using them in hard labour where they are forced to carry heavy logs and timber, stop using them as “showpieces,” ban all elephant rides, performances and circus with elephants in them as they are put through severe abuse and put an end to them being kept up chained all their life in temples whilst being continuously abused and beaten out of the public eye. Look up on the abuse taking place at a well known place of worship, which went viral internationally not too long ago.

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DOT Thursday, 06 March 2025 01:37 PM

I think they are safer than poor villagers. A weak attention is given to human and their safety.

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Umar Perera Thursday, 06 March 2025 06:15 PM

Your statistics are all wrong. The 2011 count estimated that Sri Lanka was home to 5,879 elephants. Since the 2011 count, some 4,000 elephants have died - mostly killed. Elephants don't reproduce like mice. So, how can you give a figure of 7000? Do the maths.

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