Sri Lanka faces a devastating wildlife crisis as elephant and leopard deaths surge, forcing authorities to intensify anti-poaching operations while urging public support to save the country’s most iconic animals.
Illegal hunting has taken a deadly toll on Sri Lanka’s wildlife, prompting authorities to launch an intensified crackdown on poachers who continue to target elephants, leopards, and other protected species.
A senior official from the Department of Wildlife Conservation told Daily Mirror that operations have been stepped up across vulnerable reserves. “We have identified the areas where poaching is most prevalent. As such, the patrol measures have been intensified,” the official stated. He added, “People can also contribute to the endeavour by informing the authorities via 1992 about the poachers.”
The Department revealed shocking new statistics. In 2025 alone, 268 elephant deaths have already been reported. Among them, 47 were killed by gunfire, 40 electrocuted, 13 struck by trains, and 26 killed by explosives hidden in food, known locally as hakka patas. These figures already surpass the 248 elephant deaths recorded in 2024.
The crisis is not limited to elephants. So far in 2025, 13 leopards have been killed, most falling victim to snares or hakka patas. Conservationists warn that such relentless loss of apex predators poses a grave threat to Sri Lanka’s fragile ecosystems.
Wildlife experts stress that beyond stronger patrols, public cooperation is vital. Communities living near reserves are urged to provide information that could lead to the arrest of poachers, as the battle to save Sri Lanka’s wildlife grows increasingly urgent.
