Wildlife becomes a silent casualty during floods

By  Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The ongoing floods in Sri Lanka are causing significant losses among wildlife and domestic animals, with many deaths likely going unreported. Rivers, landslides, and heavy rains have made numerous areas unsafe, threatening creatures from elephants to birds, reptiles, livestock, and pets.   

The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has closed national parks, including Horton Plains, Wasgamuwa, Kumana, Wilpattu, Minneriya, and Kawudulla, with plans to reopen by Wednesday (3). Officials said patrolling is difficult and a full count of animal deaths is impossible. 

“We can evacuate people — not wildlife,” a DWC official said.  The Wildlife Department said it is not possible to get an exact count of animal deaths until the floods recede.   

Flood-related animal losses are not new. In 2011, around 50 elephants reportedly died in floods, along with large numbers of livestock. In 2024, seven young elephants in Dimbulagala were lost during floods, raising concerns about wildlife vulnerability.   

Conservationists warn that increasingly frequent and intense floods, driven by climate change, threaten wildlife, human-wildlife coexistence, and rural livelihoods. Animal welfare groups are urging the public to report pets and stray animals in need of help.