– An elephant habitat enrichment program centered on the Thabbowa Reservoir has shown promising results in reducing the movement of wild elephants into villages in search of food, according to the Ministry of Environment.The program aims to address human-elephant conflict through scientifically planned, long-term measures to meet the natural food and water requirements of wild elephants within forest ecosystems.The initiative, implemented jointly by the Ministry of Environment and Clean Sri Lanka, focuses on developing reservoir catchment areas and surrounding forests into enriched habitats for wildlife.

As part of the broader initiative, 113 forest areas have been declared protected reserves under the Vanaspathi National Programme. The initial phase of the reservoir-based habitat enrichment project was launched around Kala Wewa and Thabbowa Reservoir.About a year ago, an operation was carried out to remove invasive plant species that threatened the Thabbowa Reservoir environment. Government officials, environmental scientists, members of the tri-forces and local residents contributed their labour and technical expertise to the effort.fficials from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forest Conservation have since monitored the project’s progress and the ecological changes in the area.Field observations indicate that, following the removal of invasive plants, grasslands have naturally regenerated along the reservoir’s edges, attracting wild elephants. Officials have also observed a decline in elephants entering nearby villages in search of food.

The project is being implemented under the Government’s policy of “A Sustainable Biosphere, An Evergreen Life”, with the aim of promoting coexistence between people and wildlife.Following the results observed at Thabbowa and Kala Wewa, the Ministry of Environment has prepared plans to extend the habitat enrichment model to other environmentally sensitive wetlands and forest reserves affected by human-elephant conflict.The initiative is expected to help protect human lives and cultivated land while providing wild elephants with food and water within their natural habitats.