A public lecture organised by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) took place yesterday (15) to mark World Elephant Day, which was observed on Monday (12).

The event featured speakers Tempe Adams from the University of Botswana and Sumith Pilapitiya, former Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). The focus was on comparing the strategies and data used by Botswana and Sri Lanka to address the human-elephant conflict (HEC).

Tempe Adams discussed the main causes of HEC in Botswana, including habitat fragmentation, illegal ivory trade, and climate change. She noted that increasing community awareness programs had significantly helped to reduce the conflict.

Sumith Pilapitiya highlighted the limitations of the traditional approach of confining wild elephants to national parks and other protected areas. 

He advocated for a less human-centric approach, emphasizing the need for more research on elephant behavior as a major challenge for those working in this field.

Pilapitiya also critiqued the current electric fencing system, suggesting alternative solutions like community-based village fencing and temporary electric fences around farmlands during harvest seasons.

The event underscored the importance of innovative, community-driven strategies to mitigate the human-elephant conflict, emphasizing the need for both communities and authorities to act responsibly to protect this majestic species.