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By Cheranka Mendis
The elephant takes pride of place in the Sri Lankan society. A sacred beast that is bestowed with the honour of carrying the holy Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, the majestic beauty that is the highlight of every perahera, the elephant is not only a tourist attraction listed among the ‘Big Five’ of the animal kingdom in Sri Lanka, but is also a species that is well-loved by young and old alike.
Even though Sri Lanka boasts of having the highest density of the Asian elephant, the continuous human-elephant conflict is rapidly changing the game, with approximately 185 elephants being killed on average annually due to the imbalance or clash that exists between two of the world’s most intelligent beings.
The death toll
Data reveals that since 1950, a total of 135 lives have been lost due to this conflict, along with the deaths of 4,225 elephants in Sri Lanka. This accounts for the loss of 50 human lives and the loss of 160 elephants on average annually. During the last few decades this number is said to have increased considerably.
According to a consensus, during the period 2000-2010, reported loss is 70 humans and 185 elephants. This has now become the second most frequently reported disaster in the country.
Despite continuous measures to educate the rural communities worst affected by the conflict and the implementation of measures such as electric fencing to keep away the wild elephants from damaging humans, crops and properties, people in 18 districts out of 25 are affected by the constant clashes between animal and man. Those worst affected are reportedly from Kurunegala, Monaragala, Matale, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Hambantota and Mannar.
Root cause of the problem
While the conflict has reached its climax, the main cause behind the clash is the rapid growth of population, both of humans as well as elephants, in a limited land area.
During the last six decades, (1950-2010) Sri Lanka’s population has increased by 150% while the wild elephant population has increased by 300%.
The need of man to expand, thereby invading the territories of the wild animals who have for decades enjoyed their space, and the confusion of the animal to suddenly find itself restrained from movement from their usual habitat has fuelled the fires of battle. The animal is also now used to poachers and their sudden appearance with death in one hand and bullets in the other has further made the animal more alert, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Resolving issues
Over the past years, government and non-government agencies and farmers have taken every measure imaginable thus far to maintain the distance between the two and reduce friction.
The principal solution since of late has been electric fencing. Although electric fencing has shown certain positivism from the human side of the story by controlling animals to a certain extent, it has also displayed many limitations, Colombo University Professor in Zoology Prof. Devaka Weerakoon said.
He noted that elephants used to roam freely in all parts of the country in the past, even though their activities are now limited to the dry, arid and intermediary zones. If the current trend of conflict continues, Sri Lanka will soon have only some 1,000 elephants to boast of, he said. “15% of the land area is marked as protected zones for the movement of elephants. Yet, over 50% of the elephant population lives outside these areas.”
Currently there is 1,200 km of electric fencing between FD and DWC protected areas, Weerakoon asserted. “Elephants only know geological boundaries and not manmade boundaries demarcated with fences. This system is not effective.”
A large number of elephants are displaced and calves orphaned. Even though the likes of Pinnawala and Udawalawe Transit Home were established with the best intentions, their success rate is not 100%.
Errors of men
“We must solve this conflict because it is not fair by the villagers whose livelihood and lives are in constant danger due to the wild elephant while we sit here and condemn them for their actions when the news of a dead elephant is published,” Weerakoon said.
He also reminded that elephants are intelligent creatures, seeking solutions to the challenges man has laid out before them. “We must always be a step ahead.”
Adding to what Weerakoon said, Wildlife Conservation Department Director Elephant Conservation W.S.K. Pathiratne stated that humans sometimes unknowingly worsen the situation. “It is common knowledge that the best time to chase away elephants is before 8:30 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m. However some of the latest deaths of humans due to the conflict were due to people trying to chase them away during the afternoon. This is an impossible task.”
Elephants, especially those that have been previously attacked, identify torchlight as a threat, because poachers shine the torch light before taking aim to being the mighty beast to its knees. “So when people walk in the night with a torch, they might misinterpret the signs.”
The good news is that the negligence of the people can be addressed with constant discussions and awareness creation.
Solution from the people for the people
In response to this national crisis, Janathakshan – a non-profit organisation that is registered under Practical Action Sri Lanka – this week launched the first-ever human-elephant conflict mitigation campaign.
Endorsed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) and the Palmyra Development Board (PDB), the core of the campaign is the ‘Palmyra Solution’. This was acknowledged as a sustainable, practical and innovative answer derived by Janathakshan, based on years of research, practice and indigenous knowledge of affected areas.
Elephants are said to not attempt to destroy the tree due to its thorns which are sharper than a well-sharpened axe.
Practical Action Head DDR, NRM and Climate Change Program and Janathakshan Director Ranasinghe Perera noted that the solution progress with the planting of four rows of Palmyra trees, in zigzag pattern as a bio fence along the conflicted areas, protected until ready with the use of a short-term electrified fence.
“The effective period of electrified fencing is 10-12 years by which time the Palmyra trees would have grown sufficiently,” Perera said. This would provide an effective, sustainable, viable, elephant friendly shield, blocking entry into human territory while providing them with fruits of Palmyra to enjoy.
Action taken
Perera expressed that based on the frequency of attacks, projects have already been set up in sites at Verugal, Udawalawe and Nikaveratiya.
Assisted by the Palmyra Development Board (PDB) they have established a plant nursery in Weeravila where 20,000 Palmyra seeds are nurtured for future bio fencing requirements. Local communities have embraced this solution and have played a key role in its implementation. Even though the trees take seven to eight years to reach adequate growth, once adequately grown the solution is permanent.
“Palmyra is flood-resistant, drought-resistant, wind-resistant, and a fire-tolerant species lasting over 100 years and provides a number of economic and environmental benefits,” Practical Action Head DDR, NRM and Climate Change Program and Janathakshan Director Ranasinghe Perera said. One km of Palmyra fencing will add 2,500 trees to the vegetation cover of the country and produce a minimum of 270 metric tons of nutritious feed for wild elephants. In addition, Palmyra is an income source for poor villagers, a means for rural employment, a medicinal source and a carbon fixing medium.
The new fencing technology is a climate friendly, environment friendly, cost effective and long-lasting technology to mitigate the impacts of the human-elephant conflict.
Benefits of the Palmyra solution
Benefits far exceed those gained through electric fencing and are a natural method to mitigate and manage the risks. While it would keep away the elephants, it would also cut down costs substantially and provide a long term solution for both the Government and the affected.
As at now the estimated costs for a km of electric fencing remains at Rs. 800,000 while the management cost of this is some Rs. 50,000 per month. The maximum time period of an electric fence is 10-12 years. The lifespan of a Palmyra tree is said to exceed 100 years. “After eight to 10 years, we will not need the electric fence.”
A 2,076 km electric fence can be covered by five million trees, which will add to the greenery and vegetation of the country.
Government support
Wildlife Resource Conservation Minister Gamini Wijith Wijemuni Zoysa speaking at the launch commended Janathakshan for its efforts and acknowledged the solution as a timely, practical and viable one.
“It is a sustainable solution and I am happy you have been able to bring this to our notice. My only regret is that out officers couldn’t discover this all this time,” Zoysa said.
“Elephants are the only beings intelligent enough who are fighting back with humans for their ownership of land. They need their food, they need space to breed and populate. When a group of elephants have been using the same route for decades to break away from the pack and go look for a female to mate, what gives us the right to say it is correct to relocate them?”
The Minister noted that the lakes elephants have been visiting for years have been made into rivers, and the entire landscape has changed, perhaps causing confusion to the animal. “They are not our enemies. They are merely fighting for their space.”
Pix by Kithsiri De Mel
