• 50% out of 838 km repaired by the DWC with P’naruwa sustaining the most damage 

The Environment Ministry has detailed the damage to elephant fences caused by the cyclonic disaster Ditwah. Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said that 838 km of electric fences have been destroyed by the floods and their aftermath. The number of damaged electric fence units is nearly 148. Electric fences all over the country have been damaged, with the most damage reported from the Polonnaruwa District.  

According to him, the Wildlife Conservation Department (DWC) is actively restoring the damaged electric fences, and that 50 per cent of the full length has now been repaired. “Action plans have also been made for the rest that need to be repaired, and that will be sorted out soon,” he added.  

He further highlighted the concern of wild elephants entering villages following the destruction of the electric fences. “This might lead to fatal encounters with elephants, retaliatory attacks, and avoidable elephant deaths as well. In rebuilding the electric fences, priority is given to conflict-prone areas where elephants frequently cross into human settlements”.  The Ministry’s concerns include that damaged fences often become death traps rather than safeguards, and that delays in restoration could lead to elephants being shot, electrocuted, or killed using explosives, murdered via torture, as well as the loss of human lives.