• Migratory routes becoming inaccessible, loss of natural habitat, gunshot injuries   

The largest living tusker in Sri Lanka, Kavantissa, is reportedly facing a serious threat to his life.

Kavantissa came into the spotlight in 2012 following the death of the ‘Siyambalangamuwa tusker’, which had been the most majestic wild elephant in Sri Lanka until then.

However, due to human activities in recent decades, Kavantissa’s traditional annual migratory route – from the Kala Wewa and the Balalu Wewa through Galgamuwa, Thabbowa, and Wilpattu – is now completely inaccessible. Similarly, water reserves such as Palukadawala, Mahagalgamuwa, and Inginimitiya, which were once part of the tusker’s habitat, are increasingly being cleared by humans for cultivation and other purposes. As a result, Kavantissa has now lost much of its natural living habitat. At present, according to environmentalists, Kavantissa roams mainly around the Galgamuwa and Ambanpola regions. 

Recently, in these areas, two elephants, namely ‘Bhathiya’ and ‘Asthika’, who were part of the same herd, were killed. Meanwhile, environmentalists have observed several wounds on the left side of Kavantissa’s body, suspected to be wounds from recent gunshots. Additionally, several elephants from the herd led by Kavantissa are also found with gunshot injuries to their legs.

These facts, according to veterinarians and environmentalists, indicate that Kavantissa too is now facing a serious threat to its life.