Sri Lanka’s minimum wild elephant population has increased to 7,451, according to the latest data released yesterday by the Ministry of Environment. The figures—compiled using census data from 1993, 2011, and the 2024 countrywide survey—point to an overall rise of 1,572 elephants compared to 2021.
However, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said the numbers must be interpreted responsibly and within context.
A senior DWC official told The Island that while the upward trend is encouraging, it does not necessarily indicate an improvement in conservation outcomes.
“The rise in numbers is a minimum estimate, not an exact count,” the official said. “Elephants are long-lived, and population changes reflect decades of births and deaths. What concerns us is the escalating human–elephant conflict, which continues to claim lives on both sides.”
The data also shows a sharp increase in the percentage of young tuskers, jumping from 8.4% in 2011 to 17.6% this year—an improvement of 9.2%. The percentage of total tuskers has seen only a marginal rise of 0.5%, increasing from 6.0% to 6.5%.
According to the DWC, tusker demographics are a critical indicator of both genetic health and long-term viability.
“Sri Lanka has one of the lowest proportions of tuskers in Asia due to historical poaching pressure,” the official noted. “Any upward movement is positive, but these increases remain fragile. Protection must be strengthened, especially in poaching-prone regions.”
Wildlife experts also cautioned that population growth alone does not reflect improved habitat conditions.
“We are seeing elephants surviving, but not necessarily thriving,” the DWC source added. “Habitat fragmentation continues at an alarming rate, forcing elephants into villages and farmland. Without serious land-use reform and proper implementation of the National Action Plan, these numbers could easily reverse.”
Environmental groups have already questioned whether the census methodology adequately accounts for elephants trapped in fragmented habitats or confined to small forest patches.The Ministry of Environment said it will release a detailed technical report shortly.
By Ifham Nizam 