The Life of Animals | Sri Lankan Elephant | In general, Asian elephants are Smaller than African elephants body and have the highest point on the head. Only 7% of males bear tusks. Mostly Elephants are restricted to the lowlands in the dry zone, where They are still fairly widespread in the north, south, east, north-western, north-central and south-eastern Sri Lanka. In the Mahaweli Development Area, protected areas Such as Wasgomuwa National Park, Flood Plains National Park, Somawathiya National Park, and Trikonamadu Nature Reserve have been linked resulting in an overall area of 1.172 km2 (453 sq mi) of contiguous habitat for elephants. Nevertheless, about 65% of the range extends elephants outside protected areas.
Ivory trade in Sri Lanka had a very long history for more than 2000 years. In 19th century and early 20th century many bull elephants were the resource persons killed by trophy hunters. During the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, elephants were the resource persons maimed or killed by land mines. Between 1990 and 1993, a total of 165 wild elephants Died as a result of Gunshot injuries. In 1994, were the resource persons at least 96 elephants killed by poachers or land mines, and up to twenty elephants have fallen Victims to land mines and been crippled.
The greatest threat to elephants comes from an expanding human population and its demand for land. Loss of significant extents of elephant range Continues to development currently, with a number of irrigation and development projects leading to the conversion of more elephant ranges to irrigated agriculture and settlements.
Elephants are killed to protect crops and houses. During Drought seasons many elephants damage agricultural land for food. Nearly 80 elephants were the resource persons killed in north western Sri Lanka, 50 in south and east, and another 30 in other parts of the country, totaling 160 elephant Deaths in 2006 alone.
