Sri Lanka records 397 elephant deaths in 2025 amid rising Human-Elephant conflict
The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) reports 397 elephant deaths in 2025, with human-elephant conflicts as the leading cause.
Of the fatalities, 71 elephants were shot, 56 electrocuted, 46 killed in train accidents, and 20 died from hakka patas explosives. Additional deaths occurred due to poisoning, drowning, and falling into abandoned wells.Regionally, the Eastern Wildlife Region recorded the highest toll with 82 deaths, followed by Anuradhapura (77) and Polonnaruwa (69).The DWC emphasized the urgent need for strategies to reduce conflicts and safeguard Sri Lanka’s elephant population.
