2 sourcesUpdated
289 wild elephants die in Sri Lanka
Between January and October 2026, 289 wild elephants died in Sri Lanka. Causes were unidentified for 95 cases, with known causes including gunshot wounds, electrocution, hakka patas, putrefaction, and other factors.
AIThe headline and summary here were written with AI from the newsrooms' reports and checked against them. AI can make mistakes, so read the linked reports for the full account.
Summary
Gunfire accounted for 42 deaths, while electrocution and hakka patas claimed 34 elephants each. Anuradhapura followed with 57 deaths, while Polonnaruwa recorded 42. Uva reported 33 deaths, followed by the North Western Wildlife Region with 21 and the Southern Wildlife Region with 19.