It is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years. The species is pre-eminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.

An average male adult Sri Lankan elephant may reach 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches) in shoulder height and weigh 5,500 kilograms (12,125 pounds). Females are much smaller.

Today, the Sri Lankan elephant is considered to be an animal that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct due to the fact that Sri Lankan elephant populations have been declining at a critical rate.

 This Sri Lankan subspecies (elephas maximus maximus) is confined to the island of Sri Lanka (65,605 square kilometres/ 25,332 square miles) off the southern coast of India. Although there is no accurate census available, it is estimated that about 4500-5000 elephants are still found in the wild, and a further 150 odd in captivity. It occupies a variety of habitats from open grasslands to forested regions, including open savannah, wet areas of marshes and lake shores. The IUCN Red List categorizes the Asian elephant as an Endangered Species.

Vestibulum ante Sri Lanka is rich in tropical forests. But due to population growth, urbanisation, and the subsequent expansion into previously unspoiled areas, the elephants’ habitat is rapidly shrinking. Each year, about 150 wild elephants and more than 50 people are killed in clashes in Sri Lanka: similar figures to India, with a population of 1 billion inhabitants, 60 times that of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan elephant population is now largely restricted to the dry zone in the north, east and southeast of Sri Lanka. Elephants are present in Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Minneriya National Park but also live outside protected areas. It is estimated that Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in Asia. Human-elephant conflict is increasing due to conversion of elephant habitat to settlements and permanent cultivation.

In the early 1900s, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 elephants roamed wild on the island. But big game hunting, poaching and the loss of habitat due to human activities such as deforestation for farming have taken their toll.

By 2000 more than 10,000 elephants were found distributed all over the island. These numbers were rapidly depleted, firstly due to poaching for ivory, and subsequently because of rapid development and deforestation, which in turn increased the conflict between man and elephant. The remaining few thousands are confined to the national parks, while a large proportion are strewn around in the north-eastern and eastern areas, outside the protected areas. It is estimated that up to some 60% of the wild population live outside the National wild life parks.

A recent survey of Sri Lanka’s wild elephants has a population 5,879– slightly higher than a previous official estimate 5,350.

There is an alarming increase of Elephant deaths in the recent months in Sri Lanka. More than twelve elephants were killed in train accidents recently along the Colombo – Batticaloa train line.

According to the train drivers, there are no speed metres in the trains and no adequate headlights. But it was also found that some train drivers failed to observe speed limits.

Elephants cross along this line and are killed mostly during night time.
There have also been more elephant deaths in the last few months due to the increase of “Hakka Pattas” bombs. This is a crude bomb hidden within parcels of food. It explodes in the mouths of elephants mouths when they try to eat it, with horrendous consequences. Elephants are being killed in a horrific, agonizing and inhumane manner.

We all must help to save these innocent, gentle creatures from this horrible pain and suffering.

Tragically there are the large number of human casualties caused by human conflict with elephants, in terms of deaths, dreadful injuries and psychological trauma. There is also massive damage done to human habitation, in terms of cultivated land, homes and livelihoods.

There were an estimated 5800 elephants in Sri Lanka according to the 2011 survey. The number of annual elephants’ deaths are alarming. There is a real risk that the Sri Lankan elephant might be extinct unless action is taken immediately.

On average 200 elephants annually and about 70 people

• Aid environmental projects to protect biodiversity and natural habitats and in particular the endangered Sri Lankan elephant.
• Build awareness and establish a community elephant monitoring mechanism in the elephant habitats in Sri Lanka.
• Identify and implement elephant protection pilot programme in a selected location/s.
• Develop habitat conservation and jungle restoration. Reverse deforestation.
• Prevent human encroachment.
• Educate affected communities of the economic benefit to them by the survival of wild elephants.
• Prevent clashes between elephants and humans and work to find ways to avoid the conflict and the devastating, at times deadly, impacts on both sides

Approach: Advocacy, awareness building and community participation approaches to achieve our targets.

Methodology: Centre for Environmental Justice/ Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka will work with the conservation community, Elephant experts, Department of Wildlife, Railway Department, local authorities and the local community groups to understand the problems, solutions and implementation methodologies and responsibilities. The selected approaches will be implemented with the support of all stakeholder groups identified during the discussions.

Implement the best practice and experience in other countries, such as planting Lemon trees, bee keeping, installing equipment to make the sound of bees, planting Palmyra fences, and community initiatives

Having an electric fence along the railway line and providing crossing access for elephants has already been proposed, however the agencies do not have the money to implement such a programme.

Further, providing GPS (Global Positioning System) based speed metres to the older train; fixing more visible sign boards in the elephant crossing areas, fixing cameras or installing signaling equipment to keep elephants away are some other solutions

An awareness building programme has already being initiated by the CEJ and the Wildlife Department with a poster campaign on killing elephants using “Hakka Patas” bombs. This programme will continue with donations come from THE SRI LANKAN LAWYERS (U.K.) TSUNAMI APPEAL in the future. CEJ will look for other support groups once the pilot project in place.

CEJ believes that a scientific elephant management strategy is necessary to resolve these issues, however the Court of appeal refused to grant leave for the case they have taken. We are drafting the case to the Supreme court now.

AIM-
• Reduce the elephant deaths due to train accidents and “Hakka Patas” bombs etc.
• Reduced human elephant conflicts.
• Habitat conservation with community involvement.
Monitoring and evaluation- CEJ board of Directors will be accountable for managing the funds and they will oversee the project designs and the implementation