Diaa Hadid reports on the growing conflict between elephants and farmers in central Sri Lanka.
Farmers in central Sri Lanka are struggling to protect their crops from elephants during the spring rice sowing season. Diaa Hadid and her colleague Susitha Fernando reported that farmers are using firecrackers and lit torches to push back the animals, which have been trampling livelihoods and occasionally claiming lives. This conflict arises as the island's 7,400 elephants roam freely while their natural habitats are converted into intensive agriculture near human settlements. Hundreds of people and elephants have been killed on both sides in recent years. The report highlights the cultural significance of the elephants, which are revered in the country. While the farmers face economic losses, the observers noted the difficulty of balancing human agricultural needs with the preservation of the wild animals.