SRI LANKA ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT

The Oakland Zoo Conservation Fund partially funded a proposal from Dr. Jayantha Jayewarden of the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust to radio collar two elephants frequenting the Handapanagala reservoir. Radio collaring these two female elephants from distinct herds will allow a research team to closely monitor their seasonal movement patterns for a period of two years.

Flourishing ivory trade in Southeast Asia and human-elephant conflict is fast decimating Asian elephant populations. The Handapanagala area has been a highly publicized human-elephant conflict area in Sri Lanka. During the dry season, over 140 elephants have been reported to frequent this area, causing serious damage and depredation to the local people. The Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWLC) elephant management strategy to drive the herds to the Yala National Park (YNP) has been a subject of much controversy as the exact number of herds, their seasonal movement patterns (towards or away from YNP), and extent of habitat use could not be confirmed.

Data collected from the movement of the two collared elephants at Handapangala will be mapped with forest cover, land-use, physical features, and known ranges at the YNP and is expected to provide constructive information for strategy planning. By confirming the elephant’s movement patterns, plans for creating accurate movement corridors have a greater chance of success.

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