Over 4,100 elephants have died since 2000 – Researcher-by B. G. Chathuranga
Source:Dailynews
Over the past 14 years, 4,194 elephants have died due to human activities and various other causes, according to wildlife and wild elephant researcher Sameera Weerathunga.
In 2023 alone, around 470 elephants were officially recorded as having died, primarily due to human activities and minor illnesses. Weerathunga highlighted that most of these deaths occurred due to illegal electric fences, explosive traps called ‘Hakka Patas’ and gunshots.
So far in 2024, over 200 elephants have already lost their lives, with these deaths directly attributed to human actions. He further noted that the lack of proper feeding practices within national parks forces elephants to roam near human settlements, which has become a common occurrence.
Commenting on the fate of iconic elephants like “Sando” and “Arjuna” from the Yala National Park, Weerathunga said that no one knows what has happened to them. Despite the deep cultural connection with elephants and the economic benefits they bring, he pointed out that the consistent killing of elephants continues unabated. He also stressed that there are solutions to address these issues.
The National Policy on Elephant Management, formulated in 2020, remains unimplemented to date, with authorities seemingly ignoring the issue, he added.
