The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi – Minister of Environment

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the answer to Question 188/2024 (Human-Elephant Conflict: Sustainable Solution) is as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Expenditure on construction and maintenance of electric fences:

¶ 03 Year — Construction (Rs. mn) — Maintenance (Rs. mn) 2015 — 275.82 — - 2016 — 239.50 — 71.82 2017 — 99.95 — 96.10 2018 — 141.50 — 9.10 2019 — - — - 2020 — - — - 2021 — 12.10 — - 2022 — 9.60 — - 2023 — 58.64 — 14.333 2024 — 69.81 — 37.435

¶ 04 Total construction: 2015-2019 Rs. 756.77 mn; 2020-2024 Rs. 150.158 mn. Total maintenance: 2015-2019 Rs. 177.02 mn; 2020-2024 Rs. 51.768 mn.

¶ 05 (ii) HEC casualties and property damage:

¶ 06 Year — Elephant deaths — Human deaths — Property damage 2015 — 205 — 63 — 1,151 2016 — 279 — 88 — 1,604 2017 — 256 — 87 — 1,425 2018 — 319 — 96 — 1,470 2019 — 407 — 122 — 2,094 2020 — 328 — 112 — 2,223 2021 — 375 — 142 — 1,808 2022 — 439 — 146 — 2,647 2023 — 488 — 184 — 3,429 2024 — 388 — 155 — 3,617 2025 (to 31 Jan) — 43 — 03 — [data not yet compiled]

¶ 07 Cumulative: Elephant deaths—2015-2019: 1,466; 2020-2024: 2,018; 2025 to Jan 31: 43. Human deaths—2015-2019: 456; 2020-2024: 739; 2025 to Jan 31: 3. Property damage—2015-2019: 7,744; 2020-2024: 13,724. January 2025 property data not yet compiled due to delays in receiving information from District Coordinating Committees making payments.

¶ 08 (iii) No.

¶ 09 (iv) A range of measures is being taken to provide a sustainable solution. I table the document containing details.

¶ 10 Key measures include: - Construction and maintenance of electric fences: as of 2024, 5,612 km constructed; civil security personnel (4,005) engaged for protection; night patrols and chase-off posts established with 737 personnel at hotspots. - Scientific research using GPS collars to identify elephant movement patterns; use of data to trial new methods. - Re-advertising and strengthening of mitigation where required.

¶ 11 (b) Not applicable.

¶ 12 Document tabled: - Details of 2024 fencing expansion across regions; 588 km under construction in multiple wildlife regions. - 4,005 Civil Security personnel deployed for fence maintenance; recruitment of 3,647 multipurpose development assistants for continuous fence protection. - Procurement and distribution of 1,620,000 elephant crackers (cost Rs. 350 mn) annually to minimize crop damage and for daily chase-offs. - Compensation: Rs. 380 mn paid in 2023; Rs. 372 mn paid so far for 2024. - Use of GPS collars; removal/capture of identified problem elephants; protection of elephant corridors by identifying and clearing obstructions. - Community-level programs since 2023 to reduce human fatalities: awareness with villagers, GNs, Divisional Secretaries and local authorities; clearing undergrowth along elephant crossing paths and installing streetlights at dark spots. - Habitat enrichment 2023-2024: removal of invasive species, water source enhancement, understory planting (data by hectares and counts provided). - Technology pilots: 1) Locally-made energizers deployed in Udawalawe, Ampara, Puttalam. 2) Ultrasonic/aversive sound devices trialed in Ampara, Galgamuwa, Polonnaruwa to deter entry. 3) Drone-assisted chase-offs with Navy and Air Force support in Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Southern regions. 4) Use of bee-sound deterrents in Maduru Oya and Ampara. 5) Smoke deterrents from burnt oil-soaked ropes trialed. 6) Concrete apron slabs at known breach points on the Udawalawe main fence. 7) Smoke from medicinal incense trials. 8) Upgrades to existing fence structures to improve effectiveness.