Sri Lanka’s juvenile tusker population on the rise

• Elephant population has increased to 7,451 in 2024 from 5,879 in 2021

By Kelum Bandara 

Sri Lanka’s juvenile elephant population with tusks have seen a rise of 9.2 per cent during the period between 2021 and 2024, according to statistics quoted by Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi.

The Minister told Daily Mirror that the juvenile tuskers accounted for 8.4 per cent of the total population in 2021, and it had scaled up to 17.6 per cent in 2024. Way back in 1993, the figure was at 11 per cent. 

He said the total population of tuskers had increased from six per cent to 6.5 per cent during the period. 

He said the elephant population had increased to 7,451 in 2024 from 5,879 in 2021.