Sri Lanka's largest bull elephant dies after gunshot wound

The male elephant known as Kavantissa died on October 16 after suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg. The animal, believed to be approximately 45 years old, stood 3.3 meters high and weighed around 5,500 kilograms, making him the tallest living male elephant in Sri Lanka.

Villagers in Galgamuwa, a community in the northwest of the country where Kavantissa typically ranged, first observed the animal limping in late September. A subsequent examination revealed the wound, and veterinary surgeons intervened to treat the injury, though the bull did not survive.

Sri Lanka reports more annual elephant deaths than any other nation and records the second highest number of human fatalities from violent encounters with the species globally. Official data indicates that since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died each year in these incidents, which typically occur when animals raid crops and enter farmland.

The island contains roughly 10% of the world's Asian elephant population within 2% of their total natural range, resulting in the highest density of the species anywhere. The Sri Lankan elephant is listed as an endangered subspecies on the IUCN Red List and is protected by national law, which includes fines and jail terms for wildlife offences. Despite these protections, experts note that animals are frequently shot, poisoned, struck by trains, or killed by improvised explosives.

Habitat loss has intensified the conflict as the rural population grew from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated the wild elephant population at 7,451 in 2024, with approximately 70% living outside protected areas. Each elephant requires about 150 kilograms of green matter daily, a demand that draws them toward agricultural fields.

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 primary food and income sources for rural families. Corea added that while a 2020 national action plan provides a foundation, it requires a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection.

Community programs have shown measurable results in mitigating the issue. In the Wasgamuwa region, Project Orange Elephant encourages farmers to grow citrus crops that elephants avoid, while electric fencing protects settlements. The 'EleFriendly' bus service carries schoolchildren through elephant corridors, reducing dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%.