By Buddhika Samaraweera   Following a revelation that a total of 410 human deaths and 1,157 elephant deaths have been reported from January 2019 to April 2022 due to the human-elephant conflict, the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation is to complete the installation of electric elephant fences in all affected areas within the next year. A discussion regarding the prevention of human-elephant conflict in the Hambantota District was held on 13 August with the participation of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and the relevant officials at the Lunugamwehera Wildlife Office. During the discussion, an official of the Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry said that it was revealed that the human-elephant conflict in 131 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, within 19 Districts, had resulted in 407 elephant deaths, and 122 human deaths in 2019, 328 elephant deaths and 112 human deaths in 2020, 375 elephant deaths and 142 human deaths in 2021, and 47 elephant deaths and 34 human deaths in the first four months of 2022. Furthermore, they pointed out it has come to light that although the necessary equipment for the construction of electric elephant fences covering all areas where wild elephants are threatened in the Hambantota District has been available in the Lunugamwehera Wildlife Office for some time, the said equipment was not properly utilised. The officials pointed out to the Minister that the construction of electric fences has come to a standstill due to the protest of some farmers’ organisations, as well as the farmers. Considering the matter, Amaraweera instructed Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry Secretary Chandra Herath to prepare a work plan for the construction of electric fences in all areas where the human-elephant conflict exists, within the next year, in consultation with the farmers’ organisations. He also said that although wild elephants, as of now, are included in the list of animals that damage crops, steps should be taken to include them in the protected animal category. He further said that land located in areas where wild elephants reside will not be released for development projects in the future. The human-elephant conflict is a major issue in certain rural areas of Sri Lanka, due to which people and elephants very often lose their lives, and properties. Approximately 250 elephants and 80 people die in Sri Lanka each year due to the human-elephant conflict. Most elephant calves are killed by the improvised trap device known as “Hakka Pattas”.