Wildlife Department and area officials have launched a joint operation on Nov. 2 to relocate wild elephants from villages in the Mahailuppallama area to a designated wildlife reserve, following daily intrusions that have endangered lives and damaged property.
The initiative, which includes the activation of an electric elephant fence, aims to protect both residents and wildlife after a series of incidents involving elephant crossings in populated areas. Officials said elephants have repeatedly entered several villages in recent days, destroying crops and, in previous cases, causing fatalities.
Local officials, in coordination with area residents, decided to drive the elephants out of nearby forested areas into a government-designated reserve. The operation involves the Department of Wildlife Conservation, local government institutions, the Mahailuppallama Seed Research Institute, Police, and other government agencies.
Drones were used to track elephant movements, and wildlife officers drove the animals approximately 10 to 15 kilometers away from human settlements. (Newswire)