Sri Lanka: Death of iconic elephant raises habitat concerns

Death of iconic Sri Lankan elephant raises concerns over human-elephant conflict

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The death of an iconic male elephant in Sri Lanka has raised concerns over ongoing contact between humans and the giant animals, whose habitats have been greatly reduced. The elephant, known as "Kavantissa", was thought to be around 45 years old and measuring roughly 3.3 meters tall (11 feet).

Sri Lanka records the highest number of elephant deaths annually and the second highest number of human deaths globally from violent interactions between elephants and humans. According to official statistics, since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 humans have died in human-elephant conflict incidents each year.

The situation affects the natural habitats of elephants and the livelihoods of rural communities. Home to about 10% of the global Asian elephant population and occupying about 2% of their total natural range, Sri Lanka has the highest density of Asian elephants in the world.

The Sri Lankan elephant is an endangered subspecies in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, and protected under Sri Lankan law, with punishment by fines and jail terms for wildlife-related offences.