Deforestation has driven elephants to roam Vavuniya-Horowpathana road

By Dinasena Ratugamage

Many elephants deprived of their habitat due to deforestation are now found on the Vavuniya-Horowpathana road.People are scared of using this stretch of road for fear of wild elephant attacks. Attendance at some schools in the area is also low, according to teachers.

The elephants raid farmlands in the area causing immense losses to farmers. Wildlife officers fear that residents will attempt to shoot the elephants. Large areas of forest land in Vavuniya have been cleared for development activities in recent years.