Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi told Parliament today (18) that the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has only 12 veterinarians to manage wildlife health across Sri Lanka, highlighting a critical shortfall in resources as the country grapples with escalating incidents of human-elephant conflict.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister revealed that these veterinarians work under difficult conditions, with no veterinary assistants, nurses, or technicians to support them.
“Unlike in other countries, our veterinarians work alone, under challenging conditions and with limited resources,” Patabendi said, emphasizing that the DWC vets are responsible for treating all wild animals, not just elephants.
Patabendi disclosed a worrying rise in elephant shootings, saying that:
- On July 10, the entire team of 12 vets had to respond to 9 elephants with gunshot injuries.
- By July 15, the number of injured elephants had increased to 13.
He also suggested the possibility of an organized campaign targeting elephants, pointing out that all of the animals had been shot in the same area—below the knee, indicating a pattern.
The Minister’s remarks underscore a deepening wildlife crisis, both in terms of conservation threats and manpower shortages. With mounting incidents of elephant injuries and human-elephant conflict affecting rural communities, the government faces increasing pressure to scale up veterinary resources, improve protective infrastructure, and investigate patterns of targeted violence against elephants.
