Elephant Conflict: Sri Lanka's Tallest Bull Dies After Gunshot

Villagers in Galgamuwa found the island's tallest living male elephant limping in late September. The wound was a gunshot to the right leg. Veterinary surgeons attempted treatment, but Kavantissa died on October 16.

The 45-year-old bull stood roughly 3.3 meters tall and weighed approximately 5,500 kilograms. He ranged across the northwest of Sri Lanka. His size made him a local fixture and a subject of admiration for residents in the area.

His death occurs against a backdrop of escalating human-elephant conflict. Sri Lanka records more elephant fatalities annually than any other nation. It also ranks second globally for human deaths resulting from violent encounters with the species. Official data indicates that since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died each year in such incidents.

The island hosts about 10% of the world's Asian elephants on just 2% of their natural range. This concentration creates the highest density of the species anywhere. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated the wild population at 7,451 in 2024. Approximately 70% of these animals live outside protected areas.

Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, attributes the conflict to habitat loss and agricultural expansion. He notes that fragmented corridors and competition for land drive the tension. Crop losses threaten rural livelihoods, a factor he says distinguishes Sri Lanka's situation from wildlife conflicts in wealthier nations. Corea stated that while a 2020 national action plan provides a foundation, it requires a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection.

Kamal Shashendra, an environmental ethics researcher based in Sri Lanka, argued that any just solution must protect human lives, livelihoods, and elephant populations simultaneously. He called for scientifically informed land-use planning, protected corridors, and fair compensation for affected families.

Community programs offer potential models for mitigation. In the Wasgamuwa region, Project Orange Elephant encourages farmers to grow citrus, a crop elephants avoid. This approach cuts raiding while providing extra income. An 'EleFriendly' bus service in the same area carries schoolchildren through elephant corridors, reducing dangerous encounters by more than 90%.