• Activists question use of paramilitary personnel for conservation
• CDF personnel to follow DWC directives
• Firearm use, if any, will be according to Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance

Sri Lanka is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), a crisis that has claimed thousands of lives and now threatens the long-term survival of one of the country’s most iconic species. 

In an attempt to tackle this ongoing crisis, the Government has initiated a controversial measure: recruiting Civil Defence Force (CDF) officers as wildlife officials within the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).

Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala confirmed that 3,900 CDF officers had already been recruited, with the remaining out of a planned 5,000 set to join in the near future.

The DWC, the island’s main State conservation arm and wildlife regulator, has been understaffed and under-resourced for decades. Meanwhile, despite efforts by the Government to provide allocations for the sector in next year’s Budget, the lack of an effective overall conservation strategy is telling.

When questioned about the role these officers would play, the Public Security Minister stated that the DWC would determine their specific tasks, stressing that the initiative aimed to fill critical human resource shortages within the department. Expected responsibilities include mediating HEC and ensuring the safety of both humans and elephants.

Regarding the use of firearms, Wijepala said that no decision had been made yet. “Usage of weapons will be decided according to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance,” he told The Sunday Morning.

Need for effective wildlife management 

While this approach may appear to address a staffing shortage, experts have raised concerns over its practicality and potential impact on elephants. 

CDF officers, originally classified as an auxiliary force (paramilitary), are trained primarily in security and law enforcement, not wildlife management. Acting as mediators between humans and elephants requires specialised knowledge of elephant behaviour, habitat management, and conservation laws. Without such expertise, interventions may inadvertently escalate conflicts, creating risks for both humans and elephants.

“The presence of security-trained personnel does not automatically translate into effective wildlife management,” noted Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR). “Elephants are not human adversaries; they react to stress, threats, and habitat loss. Improper handling can worsen the situation.” 

The Department of Wildlife Conservation, tasked with safeguarding Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity, operates under strict legal frameworks. Each species is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance No.2 of 1937, while habitats are safeguarded through a network of protected areas. The department also regulates the international trade of wild species under both national law and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Despite these frameworks, the DWC faces critical human resource gaps. As of 31 December 2024, 1,377 vacancies existed across the department, including 41 senior-level positions. Given the DWC’s nationwide operations and role as a revenue-generating entity, these staffing gaps have adversely affected decision-making and operational efficiency. 

Recruitment processes for senior posts, such as additional director general, are underway with the Public Service Commission, while requests for assistant director, engineers, and veterinary positions are pending with relevant authorities.

The recently tabled 2026 Budget includes increased funding and resources (vehicles, communication equipment, etc.) for the wildlife rangers who have been shorthanded and under-resourced thus far.

‘This is not a war’

Against this backdrop, HEC has reached alarming levels. In 2023 alone, the DWC reported 488 elephant deaths, the highest on record, alongside 187 human fatalities. From 2011 to mid-2025, 4,600 elephants and 1,528 humans lost their lives in related clashes. Experts warn that 2025 is already tracking towards even higher casualty figures, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.

Chamikara described the conflict as “a national tragedy of immense scale” and emphasised that solutions must prioritise both human safety and elephant conservation.

He raised concerns over the Government’s decision to integrate CDF officers into the DWC, arguing that increased elephant sightings reflected habitat fragmentation rather than population growth. Shrinking and fragmented habitats force elephants into human settlements in search of food, intensifying the likelihood of conflict.

Moreover, repeated killings of tuskers and strong males have destabilised elephant populations, eroding genetic diversity crucial for the species’ long-term survival. “Killing tuskers repeatedly is creating a severe imbalance, eroding unique genetic traits that are crucial for the future of elephants,” Chamikara noted.

He stressed that managing the conflict required a scientific approach and the recruitment of personnel trained in environmental and wildlife management.

“This is not a war. Elephants have never chosen to fight with humans. This conflict happens because of human actions, flawed policies, and development decisions,” he said. “We are only a part of nature, not the owners. Elephants have the same rights as us. We can’t treat this like a war between two human parties.” 

Potential solutions 

Chamikara further outlined a comprehensive, research-based plan to address the crisis. Key recommendations include restoring connectivity between habitats, regulating human interventions, and establishing long-term coexistence measures. 

Specific steps involve mapping and networking elephant habitats, installing electric fences reinforced with natural barriers like cacti and flax, constructing underpasses along major highways, and removing garbage dumps that attract elephants. Other measures focus on restricting livestock grazing in forests, restoring feeding grounds, and converting commercial plantations into grasslands. 

“These solutions are practical and evidence-based,” Chamikara emphasised. “But they require political commitment and coordinated action — elements often missing in our wildlife management policies.” 

Long-term strategies essential 

The question of whether recruiting CDF officers is a practical solution remains contentious. 

While it addresses the immediate staffing shortfall, a senior Government official working closely on the subject warned that security-trained personnel may lack the knowledge to handle delicate wildlife encounters safely. In addition, the possibility of armed intervention raises ethical and conservation concerns, as elephants could be harmed in confrontations. 

“The recruitment may temporarily fill human resource gaps, but it does not replace the need for trained wildlife officers who understand elephant behaviour and conflict mitigation,” the official stressed. “Long-term strategies — such as habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, and community-based management — are far more effective in protecting both humans and elephants.” 

The broader issue lies in habitat loss and human encroachment. Rapid urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and poorly planned development projects have forced elephants into closer proximity with human settlements. In turn, this has led to deadly encounters, as both species compete for limited resources. 

For environmentalists, the deaths of iconic elephants, particularly tuskers, represent not only a loss of life but also a serious blow to genetic diversity. Strong males play a critical role in maintaining herd stability and reproductive health, and their loss could have long-term ecological consequences.

All attempts by The Sunday Morning over the past two weeks to reach Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, Ministry of Environment Secretary K.R. Uduwawala, and DWC Director General Ranjan Marasinghe were unsuccessful. 

Efforts to contact their offices also proved fruitless, while other relevant officials either declined to comment or were unavailable. This lack of response is particularly concerning as HEC continues to escalate, posing serious risks to both communities and wildlife.