Another elephant was shot and killed in Galgamuwa recently. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area. Similar killings were reported in 2017 and 2020, and elephants have been shot and killed in Galgamuwa several times over the years.
Since 2020, more than 200 elephants have been killed due to human activities across the country. Between 2015 and 2024 alone, 3,484 wild elephants and 1,195 people were killed in human-elephant conflicts. In 2024, a total of 388 wild elephant deaths were reported.
Despite these tragic numbers, Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population is estimated to have increased. In 2025, the country is estimated to have around 7,500 wild elephants, compared to 5,879 recorded in the 2011 census.
These continuing conflicts and killings are a total disaster for both elephants and people.
