Sri lanka’s elephant relocation program sparks scientific concerns as human-wildlife conflict intensifies

The devastating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka reached a tragic crescendo in Hambantota district this year, where two heartbreaking incidents just kilometers apart highlight the desperate struggle for survival between people and wildlife. In August, seven-year-old Thinuli was killed by an elephant while helping her father in their family’s crop fields, leaving her father critically injured. Two months later, a pregnant elephant was shot dead by a farmer protecting his crops, claiming both her life and that of her unborn calf.

These twin tragedies underscore the escalating crisis in Hambantota, where rapid development projects have intensified competition for land between human communities and elephant populations. Both species are fighting for survival in an increasingly fragmented landscape, but the solutions remain complex and controversial.

In response to mounting pressure from affected communities, local authorities have launched another large-scale elephant drive aimed at pushing wild elephants from human settlements into designated protected areas. District parliamentarian Nihal Galappaththi defended the operation, stating it was implemented “on humanitarian grounds” to protect both elephants and humans as mega development projects continue to alter the region’s landscape.

However, scientists are raising serious concerns about these relocation efforts, warning that simply moving elephants without addressing underlying habitat fragmentation and human encroachment could create new conflicts elsewhere. The debate highlights the urgent need for comprehensive, science-based solutions that address root causes rather than merely displacing the problem to other vulnerable communities and ecosystems.