Calls grow for urgent national policy on human-elephant conflict

Stakeholders in Sri Lanka's conservation sector have intensified calls for swift government action to establish a cohesive national policy framework tackling the persistent problem of human-elephant conflict that continues to exact significant costs on rural communities and wildlife populations.

The issue has become increasingly critical as elephant populations encounter growing pressure from human settlement expansion and agricultural development in traditional wildlife corridors. Incidents of crop destruction, livestock loss, and occasional human fatalities have strained relationships between local communities and conservation efforts, experts say.

Proponents of expedited policymaking argue that a unified national approach is essential to coordinate management strategies across different regions and stakeholder groups. Such a framework would ideally integrate protection measures for both human settlements and elephant habitats while providing sustainable livelihood alternatives for affected communities.

Current management responses remain fragmented across multiple agencies and lack standardized protocols for mitigation and conflict resolution. Experts contend that delays in formalizing policy leave communities vulnerable and undermine long-term conservation objectives for one of South Asia's largest remaining elephant populations.

The government has not yet announced a timeline for policy formulation, though conservation bodies have signaled readiness to contribute technical expertise to the development process.