Sri Lanka's largest wild bull dies at 45 after leg is shot

An average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died each year in Sri Lanka since 2019, according to official figures. The annual toll of the island's human-elephant conflict was brought back into focus this week with the death of Kavantissa, the country's tallest living male elephant.

Kavantissa, estimated to be 45 years old, died on October 16. He stood approximately 3.3 meters, or 11 feet, high and weighed around 5,500 kilograms. The bull roamed the northwest region near the village of Galgamuwa, where his size made him a local favorite. In late September, residents noticed him limping. A subsequent examination revealed a gunshot wound on his right leg. Veterinary surgeons attempted to treat the injury, but the elephant did not recover.

The death occurs against a backdrop of shrinking habitat. The Sri Lankan elephant, a subspecies listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, is protected by national law that includes fines and jail terms for violations. Despite these protections, experts note that elephants are still shot, poisoned, hit by trains, or killed by explosives placed in food sources.

Forest cover has declined as the population has grown. The rural population increased from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. Because farming remains the primary income source in these areas, land continues to be cleared for agriculture. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated the wild elephant population at 7,451 in 2024. Approximately 70% of these animals live outside protected areas. Each elephant requires roughly 150 kilograms of green matter daily, driving them into farmlands to feed.

Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, attributed the conflict to habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and fragmented corridors. He noted that crop losses threaten rural families' main food and income sources. Corea stated that a national action plan drafted in 2020 provides a foundation but requires a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection to be effective.

Community-based programs are showing measurable results in some areas. In the Wasgamuwa region, Project Orange Elephant encourages farmers to grow citrus, a crop elephants avoid. This shift reduces raiding while providing additional income. Electric fencing also protects settlements and fields. The EleFriendly bus service in the same region transports schoolchildren through elephant corridors. This service has reduced dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%.

Kamal Shashendra, an environmental ethics researcher based in Sri Lanka, argued that a just solution must protect human lives, livelihoods, and elephant populations simultaneously. He said this requires scientifically informed land-use planning, protected corridors, community-based fencing, effective early-warning systems, and fair compensation for affected families.

Sri Lanka holds about 10% of the world's Asian elephants while covering only about 2% of their total natural range. This gives the island the highest density of the species anywhere in the world.