The elephant-human conflict in Sri Lanka is turning into a serious social crisis. Although its beginnings are decades ago, the prospect of an end has yet to materialize. The elephant-human conflict is a human creation, in which both elephants and humans are fighting. Director of Land and Agriculture Reform Movement, environmentalist Mr. Sajeeva Chamikara points out that 6642 wild elephants have died as a result of elephant-human conflict between 1990 and April 2023. The number of human lives that have been lost due to elephant attacks during that period is estimated to be 2032.
A strong discussion regarding the deaths of wild elephants has arisen after the death of 06 wild elephants in two places on the island on the 28th. When considering that fact, it is remembered that about 05 years ago, a pregnant mother and 03 other cubs died due to a collision with a train. Based on that incident, the government took steps to appoint a special committee with promises to present a plan to reduce the negative results of the elephant-human conflict. However, at this moment, 05 years have passed, and we have not been able to see any good results from the committee process, and the amount spent by the government for maintaining a committee process has also become a crime.
The Railways does not follow safety measures despite knowing the routes of wild elephants.
Environmentalists point out that the places where elephants may be in danger have been clearly identified on railway lines. The main areas of Habarana, Palugaswewa, Galoya Junction, Hathares Kotuwa, Minneriya, Galgamuwa and Welikanda have been identified. The reason for this is that 03 natural forests are located near those areas. However, environmentalist Vimukthi Weeratunga emphasizes that even though a program has been presented to reduce possible accidents in those places, the transport and wildlife authorities do not intervene systematically to use those methods. He commented on this sad situation.
“Wild elephants do not come and go from everywhere. They travel only through the places they identify as the safest. So we need to monitor the way these elephants come and go by using technology and make the train run. And train drivers should be given knowledge about this. Train drivers should be instructed to take care when running trains along elephant tracks.”
Sri Lanka’s elephant population, which is an animal resource, is under serious threat, and Sri Lanka has also recorded the highest number of elephant deaths in the world. Mainly human behavior has caused this situation. Human activities have led to a blood feud between elephants and humans. Considering the seriousness of the damage caused by elephant-human conflict in Sri Lanka over the years, between 2000 and 2021, 3,073 elephants and 1,061 people have lost their lives due to elephant-human conflict.
Unplanned development is the strongest factor that has affected this. Due to the lack of pre-planning in development plans, the habitats of wild elephants are being seriously lost.
It is also seen that the authorities have not taken steps to get the knowledge of environmentalists in the planning process. The loss of food sources for elephants is the main effect of the unorganized development process. Due to this, it is observed that elephants roam the village in search of food, and in this, elephant-human conflict has been created. Humans are occupying land due to rapid population growth, resulting in the loss of habitats for animals including elephants.
Estimates of Sri Lanka’s elephant population vary widely. The International Union for Conservation of Nature indicates that the total elephant population in Sri Lanka is between 2,500 – 4,000. The association has concluded that the elephant population in Sri Lanka has decreased by about 65% since the beginning of the 19th century. At least 375 wild elephants have died in 2021 and 439 in 2022 and the country has lost at least 238 elephants by July 2023. Environmentalist Mr Sajeeva Chamikara said that although these values are increasing, they are not decreasing in any way. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that 384 elephants have been shot and killed during 2015-2017. However, environmentalists say that 43 cases have been filed against the criminals.
Rapidly depleting forest populations
Forest cover in Sri Lanka is also an important factor in this study. Accordingly, within a period of 100 years, the forests of Sri Lanka have decreased to one-third. Government statistics show that the forests which were 44% in 1956, decreased to 29% in 2010. Settlements and illegal encroachments as well as destruction by political and powerful forces have led to the decline in density. However, environmentalists point out that policies should be made in relation to protecting the amount of forests left in the country for the sake of elephants and other animals.
Plastic emerges from the stomachs of dying elephants.
The fate of wild elephants is very sad. It is a strong reason for their lives to be insecure. Environmentalist Sajeeva Chamikara points out that wild elephants are now seriously used to eating garbage. He points out that due to this, many elephants die due to various diseases and such elephant deaths are added to the statistics as natural deaths. According to Chamikara, the post-mortem reveals that they have eaten various things like non-perishable polythene, shopping bags and even plastic bottles.
There are 54 waste disposal sites in wildlife zones. It has been identified that nearly 500 wild elephants roam around those regions. One such example is the garbage dump in Pallakkadu village in Ampara district. About 20 elephants roaming around the dump have died in 2022.
Increasing compensation for dying people – no solution to the problem.
The government spends a lot of money annually to provide relief to the families of people who die in elephant attacks and to provide compensation for various damages. After the year 2016, the compensation was increased, and accordingly, the compensation paid for property damage from 50000 rupees has been increased to 5 lakhs. The amount of Rs 30000 per injury has now been increased to Rs 1 lakh, and the compensation of Rs 1 lakh for permanent disability and human death caused by elephants has been increased to Rs 10 lakh. Also, the government has to spend money for the construction of electric fences, maintenance, driving away elephants, catching elephants, etc. According to that, the amount spent annually for Bullets that repel elephants is 200 million rupees.
Whatever action is taken, it has failed to control the human-elephant conflict. Environmentalists point out that this is a serious burden on the society of a country, and the reason for this is that the authorities do not understand their responsibility properly. environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwella gave facts about it.
“Indeed, we have made a great sacrifice and presented the necessary solutions to this problem to the government authorities. But they don’t act. We don’t know what the reason is. We have given effective strategies in the introduction. As short-term, medium-term and long-term plans.”
People have to ask who to tell this problem. The social crisis created by wild elephant attacks is even more serious than death. We hope to discuss it in the future. However, it must be remembered that it is the responsibility of the government and society to properly identify the problem and find solutions to it.
Pix by Priyantha Wijekoon
