The Department of Wildlife Conservation has decided to take legal action against motorists who feed wild elephants along the Kataragama–Buttala road, amid concerns that the practice has caused elephants to remain near the busy roadway and increased the risk of attacks on vehicles.
Wildlife officials say around eight wild elephants have become accustomed to stopping vehicles along the road in search of food.
More than 2,000 vehicles use the Kataragama–Buttala road daily, including vehicles carrying pilgrims to Kataragama and people travelling towards Monaragala, Wellawaya and Bandarawela.
Officials warned that some elephants have been reported to attack or attempt to overturn vehicles when they are not given food. In a recent incident, an elephant reportedly attacked a bus, causing it to overturn and leaving around 40 people injured.
According to wildlife officials, three women and two men have been killed in elephant attacks along the road over the past six years, while more than 100 vehicles are damaged annually in such incidents.
The road passes through Zone No. 2 of the Yala National Park and is open for public travel. However, wildlife authorities stressed that feeding wild animals, including from vehicles, is illegal.
Officials said the elephants had not remained along the road during the COVID-19 pandemic when vehicle movements were restricted, and had instead relied on natural food sources within the forest.
The Department said the current behaviour had developed partly due to bus and safari jeep drivers regularly feeding the elephants.
According to reports, Uva Province Assistant Director of Wildlife W. A. Indrajith said officials would video-record vehicles involved in feeding elephants and initiate court action against those responsible under wildlife laws. (Newswire)
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