Sri Lanka's 5,500-Kilogram Giant Elephant Dies After Leg Injury

Kavantissa, the tallest living male elephant in Sri Lanka, died on October 16 after suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg. The animal was believed to be approximately 45 years old. He stood 3.3 meters high and weighed about 5,500 kilograms.

Villagers in Galgamuwa, located in the northwest of the island, first noticed the tusker limping in late September. A closer inspection revealed the bullet wound. Veterinary surgeons treated the injury, but the elephant did not survive.

Sri Lanka records the highest number of annual elephant deaths globally. It also has the second-highest rate of human fatalities resulting from violent encounters with the species. These conflicts typically arise when elephants raid crops or move into farmland.

Official data indicate that since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died each year in such incidents. The island holds roughly 10% of the world's Asian elephant population while covering only 2% of their natural range. This gives Sri Lanka the highest density of the species anywhere.

The Sri Lankan elephant is listed as an endangered subspecies on the IUCN Red List. National law protects the animals with fines and potential jail terms for wildlife offenses. Despite these protections, experts say elephants are still shot, poisoned, hit by trains, or killed by explosives hidden in food.

Habitat loss drives much of the conflict. The rural population grew from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. As farming remains the primary income source for many, land is cleared for agriculture. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated there were 7,451 wild elephants in 2024. About 70% of them live outside protected areas. Each animal requires roughly 150 kilograms of green matter daily, which draws them toward fields.

Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, said habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and fragmented corridors drive the conflict. He noted that crop losses threaten a rural family's main source of food and income. Corea stated that the national action plan drafted in 2020 needs a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection.

Community programs offer potential solutions. Project Orange Elephant in the Wasgamuwa region encourages farmers to grow citrus, which elephants avoid. This cuts crop raiding while providing extra income. An "EleFriendly" bus service in the same area carries schoolchildren safely through elephant corridors. It has reduced dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%.