Human-Elephant Coexistence
Owning to their role as ‘keystone’ and ‘umbrella’ species, elephants help maintain the biodiversity of ecosystems. Human- elephant conflict due to habitat loss and fragmentation is among the biggest environmental issues in Sri Lanka, with the country having the unenviable record of the world’s highest incidence of human-elephant conflict. Providing better mitigation solutions requires a holistic approach that takes into consideration both human and animal motivations for engaging in potentially risky conflict-causing activities.
