Environmental lawyer Malaka Palliyaguru of the Society for Conservation of Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka (SCWE) says that, when the environmental, cultural and tourism worth of a residing wild elephant in Sri Lanka is considered, its worth could possibly be round Rs. 3.8 billion.
He made these remarks at an occasion held in Colombo to mark World Elephant Day, which fell on August 12.
He stated the worth of a wild elephant can’t be measured solely by way of direct financial advantages resembling tourism income.
He identified that the environmental providers offered by wild elephants, resembling seed dispersal, habitat modification and the upkeep of ecosystem processes, in addition to the tourism advantages they generate and the worth individuals place on their continued existence within the wild, must also be considered.
The evaluation has additionally thought of internationally used methodologies resembling Pure Capital Accounting (NCA) and the Contingent Valuation Technique (CVM).
Nevertheless, it has been emphasised {that a} complete nationwide evaluation involving economists, environmentalists and specialists within the wildlife and tourism sectors is critical to find out the exact financial worth of a wild elephant in Sri Lanka.
Rs. 500,000 high-quality for killing an elephant
Nevertheless, he identified the big disparity between the estimated worth of a residing wild elephant and the Rs. 500,000 high-quality presently imposed for killing an elephant.
He famous that this has raised questions as as to if the environmental and financial worth of untamed elephants is sufficiently mirrored within the present authorized penalties.
A scientific resolution to the human-elephant battle
In the meantime, the long-standing human-elephant battle in Sri Lanka additionally obtained particular consideration on the World Elephant Day occasion held on the College of Colombo.
SCWE Chairman Saranga Deva de Alwis identified {that a} scientific method that protects each individuals and elephants is critical when searching for options to the human-elephant battle.
The Nationwide Motion Plan for the Mitigation of Human-Elephant Battle, ready in 2020 by a Presidential Committee headed by Dr Prithviraj Fernando, was additionally revisited on the occasion.
Consultants identified that lots of the suggestions within the plan have nonetheless not been totally applied.
Dr Prithviraj Fernando stated that though efforts have been made for round six a long time to restrict elephants to protected areas, which account for under about 17% of Sri Lanka’s land space, this method has did not resolve the human-elephant battle.
Electrical fences an efficient defend in opposition to battle
Wildlife skilled Dr Sumith Pilapitiya identified that Sri Lanka has a long time of analysis knowledge, scientific research and examined options regarding the human-elephant battle.
In line with one instance he cited, a programme to assemble electrical fences overlaying round 300 paddy fields resulted in a discount of roughly 20% in human deaths in 2024.
