In Sri Lanka, human-elephant conflict takes deadly toll

AI Summary

Human-elephant encounters are taking a deadly toll in Sri Lanka as shrinking forests bring wild elephants closer to communities. Wildlife officers are relying on electric fences to protect people and manage the conflict.

GALGAMUWA, Sri Lanka, Oct 15 - Clad in his khaki wildlife officer’s uniform, Dewagiri Mudiyanselage Thilakaratne Bandara rides his motorbike the short distance from his home to the electric fence that is the main line of defence against the dozens of wild elephants that live in the rapidly shrinking forest nearby.