In response to the escalating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, the government has announced plans to more than double its anti-elephant electric fencing. The move comes after a distressing toll of over 200 elephants and nearly 100 people lost their lives due to the ongoing conflict between farmers and marauding elephants raiding crops.
Elephants, revered as a symbol of Buddhism on the island, play a significant role in temple pageants, carrying caskets containing relics. However, their interactions with farmers have led to a persistent and deadly clash, as the majestic animals often raid farmlands to feed, causing significant damage to crops.
As an endangered species, elephants are protected by Sri Lankan law, with severe penalties for harming them. Nevertheless, there have been few prosecutions, leaving both human lives and elephants at risk.
This year, the human-elephant conflict has reached a critical point, with 94 people killed in elephant attacks, a higher rate compared to the entire 2022, which already held the record for the highest number of such incidents.
Disturbingly, farmers resort to shooting or poisoning elephants, leading to the deaths of 238 elephants up to July 14, averaging just over one per day, according to official figures.
To mitigate this deadly conflict, Sri Lanka’s wildlife minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, announced plans to expand anti-elephant electric fencing. Currently, the country has 650 kilometers (400 miles) of electrified fencing protecting villages against elephants. The plan is to add another 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of high-tension fencing to deter elephants without causing harm.
The minister emphasised that an additional 3,000 workers are required to manage and maintain the new fences effectively.
Wanniarachchi acknowledged that the rising conflict with wild elephants was partly due to encroachment on forest lands by farmers and the shrinking of animal habitats due to infrastructure projects.
In a recent incident in May, furious villagers stormed a remote government office after a herd of up to 50 elephants ravaged farmers’ fields near a wildlife reserve, highlighting the severity of the issue.
A survey conducted in 2011 revealed that Sri Lanka had approximately 7,379 elephants living in the wild, including about 1,100 calves, compared to 12,000 elephants recorded in 1900.
