Elephant deaths increasing at alarming rate

A total of 278 wild elephant deaths were reported in 2018 alone.

According to Environmentalist and Environmental Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara, gunfire, the use ‘hakka patas’, and train accidents have been attributed to majority of the deaths.

He said due to unplanned development projects and due to the reduction of national forest reserves, the wild elephant population in Sri Lanka has come under serious threat.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation meanwhile continue to erect new electric fences in an attempt to mitigate elephant depredations in agricultural and plantation areas.

The Department has also taken steps to apprehend those responsible for the killing of wild elephants.

However Environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara said additional steps must be taken to combat serious threats and increase the wild elephant population in Sri Lanka.

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Captain arrested over electrocution of tusker (Pics)

The carcass of a tusker which had died due to being electrocuted by an electrified fence of a farm in Puthukudiiruppu, Mulaithivu run by the military, was found yesterday, according to the Puthukudiiruppu Police.

The police said that the carcass of the animal was found with the assistance of the Wildlife officers.

According to police, initial investigations had revealed that the fence surrounding the army run farm had been electrified to prevent wild animals entering it.

Hence, on the charge of erecting an unprotected power line to the farm fence a Captain attached to the 683 brigade was arrested.

Police said that the arrested Captain was scheduled to be produced before the Mulaithivu Magistrate’s Court.

According to the Wildlife Department Northern Region Veterinarian B. Giridharan, the tusker that had been killed due to electrification is believed to be around 30 years.

Last year, around 18 such wild elephants and tuskers were killed in the Northern province, he said, adding that due to human activity the wild elephant population in the Northern province is fast declining.


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