Disappearing Great Tuskers an urgent call for action

Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity is witnessing an alarming crisis. The majestic wild elephants that have long been a symbol of the country’s ecosystem are facing elimination. Between 2015 and 2024, the human-elephant conflict has taken a deadly toll, with 1,195 human lives and 3,484 elephants lost. However, it is the recent deaths of several rare tuskers—either shot, killed in the line of conflict, or electrocuted—that have brought the gravity of the situation into sharp focus. As it stands, only around 100 wild tuskers remain in Sri Lanka, a number that underscores the urgency of addressing this crisis.

The elephant is not merely an iconic animal but a flagship species for conservation. Protecting these magnificent creatures means preserving entire ecosystems. Elephants play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the biodiversity of the forests and grasslands they inhabit. They are keystone species, whose movements shape the landscape and facilitate the regeneration of vital plant species. By conserving elephants, we are also ensuring the survival of countless other species of flora and fauna. Unfortunately, in the battle between humans and elephants, these large mammals are often on the losing side.

The number of elephants remaining in Sri Lanka is uncertain, with the results of the September 2024 nationwide census still under wraps. However, the ongoing decline in elephant populations is clear. The elephants that once roamed freely in the wild are now being pushed into smaller, fragmented habitats, often coming into conflict with human settlements, farms, and infrastructure. The tragic loss of rare tuskers—who, due to their size and strength, are particularly vulnerable to poaching—has become a harrowing symbol of this destruction.

The reasons behind this decline are multifaceted. The expanding human population, coupled with agricultural development and deforestation, has shrunk the elephants’ natural habitats. In some cases, farmers resort to extreme measures such as electrocution to protect their crops from elephant herds.

Despite the critical importance of elephants in preserving the island’s biodiversity, many other species do not garner the same attention or resources for their protection. While elephants command the public’s affection, they are not the only species that depend on conservation efforts for survival. The fact remains that the loss of a keystone species like the elephant has far-reaching consequences on the entire ecosystem. When the elephants are gone, so too will the plants and animals that depend on the forests they help sustain.

The time has come for Sri Lanka to adopt a more science-based, strategic approach to wildlife management. Conservation efforts should not merely be reactive, but proactive and informed by data-driven research. Examples from other countries, where elephant populations are better managed and human-elephant conflict mitigated through innovative solutions, should serve as models. In Africa, for instance, some countries have implemented translocation programs, creating safe corridors for elephants to roam without coming into conflict with human settlements. In Asia, community-based conservation models have proven successful in fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife. 

Solutions could include better land use planning, community education programs on sustainable farming, the creation of elephant corridors, and the strengthening of anti-poaching laws. In addition, a deeper understanding of elephant behaviour and the human-elephant conflict could pave the way for innovative conflict mitigation strategies, such as the use of beehive fences, which have shown promise in deterring elephants from crops while benefiting local communities.