Sri Lankan photographer Lakshitha Karunaratne’s powerful image of an elephant in a garbage dump, titled ‘Poisonous Hint’, has been selected among the top 100 entries in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, highlighting Sri Lanka’s human-elephant conflict crisis.
Sri Lankan wildlife photographer Lakshitha Karunaratne has achieved international recognition with his photograph “Poisonous Hint” being shortlisted among the top 100 entries for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards. This prestigious competition, now in its sixty first year, represents one of the highest honors in nature photography worldwide.
Karunaratne’s impactful image captures a solitary elephant walking through a garbage dump in Sri Lanka, visually documenting the severe human elephant conflict occurring throughout the country. The photograph was selected from an impressive 60,636 submissions from photographers around the world, making this recognition particularly significant.
The photographer has extensively documented approximately 7,500 human elephant conflicts throughout Sri Lanka, with many images showing elephants foraging in open garbage dumps due to habitat destruction and waste management issues. Karunaratne expressed feeling extremely humbled by the selection of his work for this prestigious award presented by London’s Natural History Museum.
He emphasized that his photograph illustrates the devastating effects of improper waste disposal and the profound impact these practices have on Sri Lanka’s elephant population. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year award is often described as the Oscars of wildlife photography, representing the highest achievement in the field.
Karunaratne noted that this recognition reinforces how photography serves not only as an art form but also as a voice for voiceless creatures. He expressed gratitude that “Poisonous Hint” was selected for official press release distribution, ensuring the story reaches global audiences through print, broadcast, and digital media platforms worldwide.
In a social media statement, the photographer called for responsible waste management practices and emphasized that sustainability should become a way of life rather than merely a choice. He concluded that protecting elephants means preserving not just a species but the essential spirit of nature that belongs to all humanity.
