In brief
Sri Lanka has started the Hasthi Sena operation to shield elephants, involving the Environment Ministry, armed forces and wildlife authorities. It will initially protect 17 high‑risk elephants in the North‑Western Wildlife Region while covering about 80% of elephant‑habited areas and targeting illegal weapons and fencing. Authorities plan additional measures for the remaining 20%, but details remain unclear.
Sri Lanka announced on Monday that it has launched an island‑wide operation called Hasthi Sena to protect elephants and reduce human‑elephant conflict. The announcement came from the Ministry of Environment, which said the program had begun in the North‑Western Wildlife Region and is being carried out jointly with the armed forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The operation is designed to secure the lives of 17 elephants that have been identified as being at risk, with an overall goal of covering roughly 80 percent of the country’s elephant‑habitat areas. A separate program is slated to address the remaining 20 percent of habitats that are not included in the initial phase.
Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi explained the focus of the first phase. A:
"The initial phase would focus on 17 elephants identified as being at risk,"said Patabendi when the launch was announced.
In addition to wildlife protection, authorities will conduct raids and take legal action against individuals using illegal firearms, explosive bait known as "hakka patas," unauthorized electric fences, and snares that threaten elephants. These enforcement efforts are meant to curb the escalation of human‑elephant conflict that has been rising in the region.
Program Implementation and Coordination
The Ministry of Environment, armed forces personnel, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation will monitor the status of the designated elephants and manage interventions in real time. The operation’s reach spans three states and several wildlife sanctuaries identified as key elephant corridors.
Early stages of the operation involve detailed mapping of elephant routes, setting up of surveillance checkpoints, and education programs for local communities to reduce the likelihood of encounters. Documented incidents in the past have led to conflict over crops and property, so the new measures aim to pre‑empt such clashes.
While the exact mechanism for the separate 20 percent program remains unscheduled, the Ministry’s initial briefing highlighted a need to expand protective actions in less surveyed areas. The announcement did not specify timelines for when the additional coverage will commence or how success will be measured.
There are still uncertainties about how long it will take to fully secure the remaining elephant habitats, the effectiveness of the legal actions against offenders, and how the program will evolve as it moves beyond its launch phase. Future updates are expected to clarify the scope of the 20 percent program as well as the long‑term strategy for maintaining safe coexistence between humans and elephants.