Sri Lanka is expected to see a rise in elephant deaths this year due to prolonged drought conditions and ongoing environmental pressures, the country’s top wildlife official has warned.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) on 12 August, Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said the situation remains critical, with early indicators suggesting 2025 will surpass last year’s toll of 388 elephant deaths.
To address the escalating human-elephant conflict, the DWC is preparing to implement a new mitigation plan.
A high-level meeting to finalise the proposal was held at the Ministry of Defence on 12 August, and the plan will prioritise the hardest-hit districts of Puttalam, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala.
Journalists questioned the decision to draft a new strategy instead of fully implementing a 2020 action plan. Marasinghe said both plans were reviewed during the meeting chaired by the Defence Secretary and that the new initiative aims to offer more practical, location-specific solutions.
Director of Wildlife Health Dr. Tharaka Prasad, who also addressed the media, confirmed that 12 injured elephants are currently under treatment.
Pressed further on the grievances of wildlife regulatory officers and the claim that their voices have been sidelined, Marasinghe denied the allegations, stating that the DWC had held discussions with unions and resolved several issues prior to the media briefing.
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