Sri Lanka's 5,500 kg bull elephant dies after leg wound
Kavantissa, the island's tallest living male elephant, died on October 16 following a gunshot injury in Galgamuwa.
By Malik Salazar ·
Kavantissa, a 45-year-old bull elephant weighing approximately 5,500 kilograms, died on October 16 in Sri Lanka. The animal, which stood 3.3 meters tall, was the tallest living male elephant on the island when it was struck by a gunshot wound to the leg.
Villagers in Galgamuwa first observed the animal limping in late September. A subsequent examination revealed the wound on its right leg. Veterinary surgeons attempted to treat the injury, but the elephant did not survive the procedure.
The death underscores the persistent tension between humans and elephants in Sri Lanka. Official data indicates that the country records the highest number of elephant deaths annually and the second-highest number of human fatalities from these encounters. Since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died each year in such incidents.
Sri Lanka holds about 10% of the world's Asian elephant population, a figure that accounts for roughly 2% of the species' natural range. This concentration creates the highest density of Asian elephants globally. The Sri Lankan elephant is listed as an endangered subspecies by the IUCN. Despite national laws that impose fines and jail terms for wildlife offenses, the animals continue to face threats from shooting, poisoning, train collisions, and improvised explosives.
Habitat loss drives much of this conflict. The rural population grew from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. As farming remains the primary source of income for many residents, agricultural expansion continues to clear forest land. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated the wild elephant population at 7,451 in 2024. Approximately 70% of these animals live outside protected areas. Each elephant consumes about 150 kilograms of vegetation daily, a requirement that often pulls them toward farmlands.
Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, stated that habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and fragmented corridors drive the conflict. He noted that crop losses threaten the food and income of rural families, a dynamic that distinguishes the local situation from conflicts in wealthier nations. Corea added that while a 2020 national action plan provides a foundation, it requires a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection to be effective.
Community programs are offering practical solutions. In the Wasgamuwa region, Project Orange Elephant encourages farmers to grow citrus trees, which elephants tend to avoid. This initiative reduces crop raiding while providing farmers with additional income. Electric fencing also protects settlements and farmlands. An "EleFriendly" bus service transports schoolchildren through elephant corridors, a measure that has reduced dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%.
Kamal Shashendra, an environmental ethics researcher based in Sri Lanka, argued that solutions must protect human lives, livelihoods, and elephant populations simultaneously. He identified scientifically informed land-use planning, protected corridors, community-based fencing, effective early-warning systems, and fair compensation for affected families as necessary components for a just outcome.
