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

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) As per the 2020 Forest Inventory: - Total forest cover in Sri Lanka (natural forest cover basis): 4,717,222.78 acres.

¶ 03 (ii) All forests located in districts where elephants live are suitable for elephants: 4,553,641 acres. The remaining forests are in the wet zone and hill country where elephants do not reside.

¶ 04 (iii) The elephant population is not calculated per ecosystem unit. The 2011 elephant survey estimated a minimum of 5,879 wild elephants.

¶ 05 (iv) Yes.

¶ 06 (v) Human-elephant conflict statistics:

¶ 07 Year | Persons Attacked | Human Deaths | Elephant Deaths 2020 | 236 | 112 | 328 2021 | 212 | 142 | 375 2022 | 353 | 146 | 439 2023 | 423 | 184 | 488 2024 | 354 | 155 | 388

¶ 08 (b) (i) While views exist on carrying capacity for particular ecosystems, studies establishing whether the national elephant population exceeds the carrying capacity of Sri Lanka’s overall natural ecosystems have not yet been revealed. (ii) No. (iii)-(iv) Not applicable. (v) Yes. Measures to control destruction arising from human-elephant conflict include: - Construction of electric fences: 5,612 km completed to date; an additional 588 km under construction across Wildlife Regions South, Uva, Eastern, Central, North Western, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Polonnaruwa. - Deployment of 4,005 Civil Security Department personnel for fence maintenance and protection. - Establishment of elephant drive posts in high-conflict areas with 737 CSD personnel. - Recruitment of 3,647 multipurpose development society members to the Department of Wildlife Conservation for round-the-clock fence maintenance and protection. - Annual procurement and distribution of 1,620,000 elephant crackers (cost: Rs. 350 million) for crop protection and daily elephant-driving operations. - Compensation payments: Rs. 380 million in 2023 and Rs. 372 million so far in 2024 for human and property losses. - Scientific research using GPS collars to study elephant movement patterns; data applied in development-project areas. - Capture and removal of identified problem elephants. - Identification and securing of elephant corridors (alimankada) and removal of obstructions to elephant movements.

¶ 09 Community-level management since 2023: - Identification of GN divisions with human fatalities; door-to-door awareness with villagers, GN officers, Divisional Secretaries and relevant Pradeshiya Sabhas. - Clearing undergrowth along known elephant movement paths and installing street lighting at dark points.

¶ 10 Habitat enrichment 2023–2024 (hectares): - 2023: Invasive plant removal 386.9; grassland management 258.27; water sources improved 118.64; access routes both sides cleared 9 locations. - 2024: Invasive removal 105; grassland 222; water sources 365; access routes 5.

¶ 11 Pilots and technology trials: - Locally produced energizers in Udawalawe, Ampara, Puttalam. - Elephant-repellent sound devices tested in Ampara, Galgamuwa, Polonnaruwa. - Drone-assisted elephant driving with Navy and Air Force in Puttalam and Southern Anuradhapura regions. - Bee-sound deterrents in Maduru Oya and Ampara. - Smoke deterrents using burnt engine oil-treated ropes. - Concrete slabs installed at known breach points of Udawalawe National Park perimeter fence after identifying routes used to enter villages. - Smoke from certain medicinal resinous timbers tested as a deterrent. - Upgrades to existing fence architecture to improve efficacy.

¶ 12 (c) Not applicable.