Human-elephant conflict is a huge issue across Sri Lanka, but we believe its solution involves protecting not only elephants, but people too
Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) continues to be a significant challenge in certain regions of Sri Lanka, threatening the safety of rural communities, the livelihoods of farmers, and the long-term survival of elephants. The “Saving Elephants by Helping People” (SEHP) in Sri Lanka, the first of its kind, was launched in 1996 to explore ways to resolve the increasing threats associated with human-elephant conflict and its close relationship with poverty, through community development, capacity building, and research.
The SEHP project tested an innovative concept, which was to fence elephants ‘OUT’ of human settlements rather than ‘IN’ protected areas. This concept takes into consideration that 70% of the Sri Lankan elephant population ranges outside the protected area. The project pioneered the use of solar-powered electric fences to protect homesteads and crops from elephant raids. It uses a management model that fully integrates community participation into HEC resolution. The SEHP project utilizes community-based mitigation techniques and GIS-based methodology to understand HEC and design appropriate solutions that are sustainable. The project further engages with communities to help them adapt alternative agriculture practices and practice sustainable land use to mitigate HEC and alleviate poverty.
Asian Elephant Support
The first fence was erected in 1998 in the village of Pussellayaya in Wasgamuwa. This fence has been operating for the past 27 years. Since then, the SEHP project has installed several more electric fences, including one in the historic 2300-year-old Somawathiya Chaitiya temple. The most recent fence of 5 kilometers is in the planning stages and has been funded by Asian Elephant Support.
Recent analysis of the statistics within the past 5 years showed that the Wasgamuwa region contributes less than 2% to the national statistics on human-elephant conflict, including human deaths, elephant deaths, and the number of properties damaged. This is mainly due to the work the Society has been doing for the last 30 years, mitigating human-elephant conflict in Wasgamuwa
We offer individuals and families a rare opportunity to work alongside scientists, conservationists, educators, community partners, and local villagers deep within the heart of beautiful Sri Lanka. Whether you’re traveling alone or with a group, for fun or for business, our programs offer a wide variety of options to meet your needs and fulfill your interests while helping to support our critical conservation and research work.
© 2025 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
+1 973 767 6063 (USA)
+94 74 351 5363 (Sri Lanka)
info@slwcs.org