As many as 455 wild elephants were killed in Sri Lanka in 2025, Parliament was informed yesterday.
The figure marks a noticeable increase in elephant fatalities compared to the previous year, with 388 wild elephant deaths recorded across the country in 2024.
The details were disclosed in a document tabled by Minister of Environment Dhammika Patabendi in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament L.M. Abeywickrama. The report further revealed that 160 people lost their lives due to wild elephant attacks in 2025, while another 221 individuals sustained injuries.
To mitigate the escalating human-elephant conflict, an electric fence network spanning a total length of 5,787.89 kilometers has been erected to date. The tabled document also noted that a total sum of Rs. 618.89 million was spent in 2025 alone for the installation and construction of these electric fences.