Sri Lanka to deploy military to protect wild elephants

The Sri Lankan government is launching a joint operation involving the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the nation’s three armed forces to protect wild elephants and tuskers. The initiative aims to mitigate human-elephant conflict and combat wildlife crimes, such as illegal killings and the use of explosive bait known as ‘ashakka patas’.

A dedicated operations centre will be established at Army Headquarters to coordinate activities between the Tri-Services, wildlife officers, and veterinary specialists. The program includes deploying specialized Army units to monitor high-risk areas, intensifying emergency raids in conflict zones, and developing an intelligence-gathering system to respond to wildlife threats.

To support the mission, military personnel will receive specialized training from wildlife authorities on handling wild animals. Additionally, wildlife officers will be provided with accommodation and facilities at military camps to facilitate closer cooperation.