LNP - Human-Elephant Conflict claims over 250 lives in six months

The ongoing human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka has claimed the lives of 261 individuals both human and animal within the first six months of this year, the Department of Wildlife Conservation revealed. According to official data, 198 elephants have died so far in 2024, while 63 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks during the same period. A senior official from the department told Daily Mirror that the causes behind the elephant deaths included 34 from gunshot injuries, 35 from electrocution, 18 from explosives concealed in food items known as 'hakka patas', and 12 in train collisions. The remaining deaths were attributed to natural causes or unidentified reasons. Worryingly, most of the elephants killed were juveniles. The official added that 2024 has already seen significant losses on both sides with last year recording a total of 380 elephant deaths and 154 human fatalities due to the conflict