Wild Elephant deaths spike in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Wildlife Conservation said there has been an increase in wild elephant deaths in 2023 compared to 2022.

114 elephants have died from the 1st of January 2023 to 25th of April, 2023.

67 wild elephants have died due to shootings, electrocution and elephant crackers.

A spokesperson for the Department of Wildlife Conservation said the number of wild elephant deaths due to human intervention in 2023 has increased by around four percent compared to the first four months of 2022.

The highest number of elephant deaths in 2023 was reported from the Anuradhapura district, with 34 deaths so far.

29 wild elephant deaths have been reported from the Polonnaruwa district and 19 deaths from the Eastern Province.

36 people have lost their lives due to the human-elephant conflict.