Since 2023, around 470 elephants have perished in the nation.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation reports that 196 elephants have perished as a result of human activities such as electric shocks, haka batas, and elephant shooting.
Among them were 83 elephants shot, 47 elephants killed by firecrackers, 66 elephants electrocuted, 23 elephants killed by train accidents, 1 elephant killed by a car accident, 4 elephants killed by drowning, 1 elephant drowned in water, 5 elephants trapped in agricultural land, 15 elephants killed by sudden accidents, and 1 elephant killed by cholera. Elephant deaths have been documented as follows: 2 elephants, 15 in a rotten state, 10 in a natural state, 28 in a decomposed state, and 138 for unknown and other reasons, according to Wildlife Conservation Department Director Manjula Amararatne.
The greatest number of elephant deaths were recorded on September 27, 2018, and within 36 hours, 11 elephants perished as a result of train accidents and shooting events.