The Department of Wildlife Conservation says 128 elephant deaths have been recorded across Sri Lanka between January 1 and May 15 this year.

According to official data, causes include 20 deaths from shootings, 15 from electrocution, 10 from consuming hakka patas (explosive bait), and 5 from falling into cultivation wells. 

Additional fatalities were reported due to poisoning, train collisions, and drowning.

The highest number of elephant deaths has been reported from the Eastern region, with further cases recorded in the Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura wildlife zones.

The Department also confirmed that human casualties remain significant.

So far this year, 35 human deaths have been reported due to elephant attacks, officials said. (Newswire)

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The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has urged the Government to suspend the proposal to issue firearms to farmers to control damage to crops caused by wild elephants and other animals. 

The plea was made via a Letter of Demand (LoD) sent yesterday to the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.

In its LoD, the CEJ calls for the immediate suspension of the initiative, warning that the proposed policy would accelerate elephant deaths, which have seen a significant increase in the recent past.

The CEJ highlighted that the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance makes it a non-bailable offence to harm or kill wild elephants. 

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, 232 elephants have died between January and mid-July this year, mostly due to human-related causes.

“In the event of your failure to take action as herein demanded, we will pursue further legal action, including recovery of the cost of suit, without further reference,” the CEJ warned.

The LoD has been sent after a letter issued by the Defence Ministry on 11 July on the proposal to issue firearms to farmers to control damage caused to crops by wild elephants and other animals. (Newswire)

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