Sri Lanka battles mounting human-elephant conflict in shrinking forests

In Galgamuwa, a region where forests have dwindled dramatically, wildlife officer Dewagiri Mudiyanselage Thilakaratne Bandara makes daily trips on his motorbike to inspect electric fencing designed to keep wild elephants at bay. The barriers represent the front line of defence in an increasingly tense standoff between conservation efforts and human settlement expansion in Sri Lanka's central regions.

The proliferation of human-elephant encounters reflects a broader crisis across the island nation. As agricultural development and urban sprawl consume natural habitats, wild elephant populations are forced into closer contact with communities, creating dangerous situations for both species. The resulting conflicts have resulted in fatalities among villagers and substantial losses to crops and property.

Wildlife authorities face mounting pressure to find sustainable solutions that balance the needs of rural populations dependent on farming with efforts to protect Sri Lanka's remaining elephant populations. Traditional barriers like electric fencing offer temporary relief but remain labour-intensive and costly to maintain. Environmental experts warn that without comprehensive habitat restoration and better land-use planning, human-elephant conflicts will likely intensify in the coming years.