COLOMBO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will take strict actions against individuals who have installed substandard private electric fences, given that they are a leading cause of elephant deaths, Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi said on Friday.
Patabendi said officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation have been asked to investigate illegally or poorly constructed fences and pursue legal action where warranted.
The minister said authorities would strengthen oversight to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Human-elephant conflict is a serious problem in Sri Lanka, resulting in the deaths of 3,477 wild elephants and 1,190 people in the country between 2015 and 2024, according to official data.
A total of 198 wild elephants died in the first seven months of 2025 due to various causes. ■
