HEC in Hambanthota on the rise – three humans killed in three days

Due to large areas of wildlife habitat being fenced off and utilised for various purpose in the Hambanthota district, the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Hambanthota is on the rise.  Loss of habitat has resulted in the loss of lives of both wild elephants and humans.

In the past three days, three incidents of humans being killed by wild elephants  have been reported in the area. The latest incident took place at around 9pm on Wednesday (12) at Madunagala Suriyawewa when a 63 year old farmer traveling on a motorcycle from his chena to a grocery store was encountered by a wild elephant. On Tuesday (11) a farmer who was returning home from his chena at around 11pm was killed by a wild elephant at Koggalla South in Ambalanthota and on Monday (10) it was reported that a person was killed by a wild elephant in Katuwewa, Hambanthota.