About fifty elephants have died in the first half of the year in Sri Lanka

MADRID, 10 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

At least 49 elephants have died in the first six months of this year in the Polonnaruwa district of eastern Sri Lanka as a result of illegal human activities.

The Polonnaruwa District Wildlife Department has indicated that between January 1 and June 30, 2022, a total of 49 elephants have died in that district and that, in addition, 17 people have also died due to encounters between humans and animals, as reported by 'The Island'.

Compared to the same period in 2021, deaths have increased significantly, due to 36 elephant deaths and nine human deaths (13 and 8 fewer deaths, respectively). These figures represent an increase in the registration of victims of more than 65 percent in one year.

"In Sri Lanka, 70 per cent of elephant ranges are outside protected areas and therefore these are the spaces where human-elephant encounters become hostile and problematic," officials from the department in charge, in statements collected by the aforementioned newspaper.

Based on records, the Department has indicated that the majority of elephant deaths occurred from illegal and unauthorized human activities.