Sri Lanka's tallest wild elephant dies after gunshot

Kavantissa is dead.

The elephant died on October 16 after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg. He was believed to be roughly 45 years old. At the time of his death, he was considered the tallest living male elephant in Sri Lanka. His height reached approximately 3.3 meters. He weighed about 5,500 kilograms.

Villagers in Galgamuwa, a town in the northwest, reported seeing the animal limping in late September. A closer inspection revealed the injury on his right leg. Veterinary surgeons treated the wound, but the bull did not recover. He ranged across that specific area for years, where his size attracted attention from local residents.

Sri Lanka records the highest number of elephant deaths of any nation. It also holds the second highest number of human fatalities from violent encounters with the species. These incidents typically occur when elephants enter farmland to raid crops. Official data indicates an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died annually in such conflicts since 2019.

The island nation holds about 10% of the world's Asian elephant population. This concentration occurs on land that covers only 2% of the species' natural range. The Sri Lankan elephant is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. National law protects the animals with fines and prison terms for wildlife offenses. Despite these protections, elephants continue to be shot, poisoned, struck by trains, or killed by explosives hidden in food.

Habitat loss drives much of this conflict. The rural population in Sri Lanka grew from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. As farming remains the primary source of income for these communities, land clearing for agriculture has accelerated. 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 roughly 150 kilograms of green matter per day, pulling them toward agricultural fields.

Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, identifies habitat loss and agricultural expansion as the primary drivers of the conflict. He notes that fragmented corridors and competition for land intensify the tension. For rural families, crop losses represent a direct threat to their main source of food and income. Corea stated that a national action plan drafted in 2020 provides a useful foundation but requires a comprehensive strategy with enforceable habitat protection to be effective.

Community programs offer practical solutions to reduce these encounters. In the Wasgamuwa region, the Project Orange Elephant initiative encourages farmers to plant citrus trees. Elephants avoid these crops, which reduces raiding while providing farmers with additional income. Electric fencing protects settlements and farmland from incursions. The EleFriendly bus service transports schoolchildren through elephant corridors. This measure has reduced dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%.

Kamal Shashendra, an environmental ethics researcher based in Sri Lanka, argues that any just solution must protect human lives, livelihoods, and elephant populations simultaneously. He stated that this requires scientifically informed land-use planning and protected corridors. Community-based fencing and effective early-warning systems are also necessary. Shashendra emphasized the need for fair compensation for families affected by crop damage.