About 150 elephants, including tuskers and calves, have been trapped for more than a week in the Oyamaduwa area in the Anuradhapura district. The elephants are confined to the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) farm and are not moving away despite efforts by wildlife officers and local residents, according to Wildlife Department sources in Anuradhapura.
The crisis has brought renewed attention to the challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the region, as the Environment Ministry faces mounting pressure to balance conservation efforts with the needs of local farmers.
Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi told the Sunday Observer yesterday that the Departments of Wildlife and Forest Conservation are considering a plan to drive away the stranded elephants to the Wilpattu National Park as a solution to the crisis.
“We have not finalised the relocation plan yet. It will be finalised in consultation with all stakeholders, including farmers, conservationists, and officials from the Wildlife and Forest Conservation Departments,” Dr. Patabendi said.
He said that efforts are being made to ensure minimal damage to crops and property during the relocation drive. “The relocation will be prepared side by side under a program to pay compensation for property and crop damage,” he said. The authorities are also working on a plan to feed the elephants during the relocation process, while addressing farmers’ concerns about the impact on their livelihoods, he said.
Farmers in the area have voiced fears over the impact on their livelihoods, adding to the complexity of the situation. Dr. Patabendi said, “We understand very well that the farmers have already grown their crops in this region.”
