Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe revealed that a total of 245 elephant deaths have occurred in 2025 due to various causes, including 38 by electrocution and 13 hit by trains.
In 2024, the cumulative death toll was 388, with 84 elephants killed by gunfire alone.
In response, the Ministry of Environment has launched a special action plan to safeguard the island’s wild elephants, including the iconic tusker Kavantissa, who is currently being monitored near Galgamuwa, according to Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Pattabendi.
