CLIMATE CHANGE AGGRAVATING THE HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT (HEC) IN SRI LANKA

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is one of the biggest environmental and socio-economic crises in Sri Lanka. Has climate change accelerated this feud? It indeed has. Anthropogenic activities induce long-term shifting of weather conditions which would normally occur due to natural causes.  Hence, this results in extreme and abnormal weather patterns, spread of invasive plants and insect pests and loss of harvest impacting both humans and elephants.

We discussed this matter with a pioneer scientist in Asian elephant research, Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando who is also the chairman at the Center for Conservation and Research. Also, the experiences of Supun Lahiru Prakash, an expert in elephant research and the director of the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle of Sri Lanka have also been included in this study.

According to the insight of our experts, the rapid growth rate in the human population in Sri Lanka has meant that more bare and forested land was being utilized for farming and other industrial activities. Statistically, 82% of land in the country is occupied by people while elephants’ range in 62%.  This means, 44% of land in Sri Lanka is shared by both humans and elephants.

Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando explains that Protected Areas (PAs) with thick forest cover do not carry sufficient dietary requirements for elephants. Asian elephants, also called “gazers” , rely mostly on grasslands. Hence, most elephants in Sri Lanka have to move out of dense forest covering to grasslands in search of food. This results in human-elephant interaction and assuming that there are around 6,000 elephants in Sri Lanka, over 4,000 elephants are likely to use areas inhabited with people.  

Elephants have shown preference to slightly disturbed areas like abandoned chena lands, grasslands, or harvested paddy lands. This is due to easily accessible food which is a scarcity in protected areas, especially during the drought periods.

Supun Lahiru Prakash explained that adult male elephants typically range among human habitation and cause damage while females and calves remain in the wild. On the contrary, the animals that do not come out of the heavy forest areas suffer malnutrition and ultimately risk even death.

Climate change is responsible for the recent increase in elephant deaths as drought periods are prolonged which have affected the vegetation. Additionally, HEC incidents are reported from 19 Districts and 131 Divisional Secretariats encompassing almost the entire dry zone of the country where droughts are most common.

Flash floods are also a result of climate change. Supun mentioned that one or two elephant deaths every year are caused by flash floods. He also added that within the period that he has conducted research, flash floods have been a more prominent cause of elephant deaths during recent times.     

Climate change causes changes in vegetation which provides favorable conditions for invasive plants to thrive. Dr. Prithiviraj explained that, Lantana camara (Gadapana), and Eupatorium odoratum (Podi sinno maran) are largely visible in Lunugamwehera national park. FEO (Federation of Environmental Organizations) had roughly estimated the area covered by these IAS (Invasive Alien Species) plants to be 900 hectares. Read more  here  Archived. 

Udawalawe National Park which is famous for its elephants is also covered by Lantana camara (Gadapana) and Vachellia eburnea (Syn: Acacia eburnean, Gini Andara). Additionally, Minneriya National park which is known for the largest Asian elephant gathering is threatened by Bambusa arundinacea (Katu una) and Xanthium indicum (Agada). Furthermore, Prosopis juliflora (kalapu andara) has been distributed in PAs down south and to which elephants have slowly adopted added Dr. Prithiviraj. Spreading invasive flora rapidly alters the aquatic habitats and also leads to a decrease in the quality of habitat explains, Supun Prakash. Moreover, invasive plants cause habitat destruction which not only has adverse impacts on elephants but also other grazing herbivores.

Although renewable energy is a good solution to combating climate change, it needs to be done after extensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) which will rule out any damage to existing ecosystems and social well being. Read more about this here

The Moragahakanda Hydro Power Plant is one such example which has caused the dispersal of the iconic elephant gathering. This has resulted in malnourished elephants and increased HEC in the surrounding villages. The impacts have been severely felt in the Minneriya National Park, where the number of elephants who used to feed on the banks of the Minneriya Lake have diminished by a few hundreds, with several deaths being reported recently as well. 

“In view of Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis, it is not possible to financially invest in plans to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. However, we have the ability to maintain our microclimate in a local scale” added Supun Prakash. He further explained, due to the prevailing food crisis many locals are tempted to clear forests for mass cultivations and Kabiliththawa forest cover is one example. We need to realize and create awareness that deforestation leads to climate change intensifying HEC.  

Within the years 2010 to 2019 a total of 14,516 HEC incidents were recorded. There were total of 807 human deaths, 579 human injuries and 10,532 property damages caused by elephants and 2631 elephant deaths.  These numbers were much less in the decade before, which suggests that climate change has in fact had great impact on HEC.  Hence, reducing the drivers of climate change may be a single yet powerful solution to address HEC in Sri Lanka.