Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) is one of the most urgent conservation and social challenges in Sri Lanka, threatening both the survival of elephants and the well-being of rural communities. Nowhere is this more visible than in Hambantota, a dry-to-arid landscape where rapid development, large-scale agriculture, and widespread forest clearance have intensified conflict between people and elephants. The concept of a Managed Elephant Reserve (MER) was first proposed as part of the Greater Hambantota Development Project. Unlike a national park, an MER is designed to integrate human land use with elephant movement patterns—allowing elephants to safely traverse agricultural and settlement landscapes while reducing conflict with people. Although the MER was gazetted in 2021, it lacked land tenure clarity and a management plan, leaving both communities and elephants vulnerable.

TERN’s Role in Evidence-Based Conservation and Community Engagement

In partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) and the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), TERN undertook a project in 2024 to provide the missing foundation: evidence. By combining ground data collection, ecological assessments, and socio-economic surveys, the project examined:
•    How land-use changes and development contributed to escalating conflict.
•    Why the MER declaration failed to deliver meaningful outcomes.
•    Community perceptions of the MER and their recommendations for conflict mitigation.
TERN’s technical team worked closely with farmer associations in Walsapugala, Sooriyawewa, and surrounding villages, as well as undergraduates from Sabaragamuwa University, to collect and analyze field data. This participatory approach ensured that scientific findings were rooted in lived realities, while also strengthening local capacity for conservation monitoring.

Importance and Applicability

The project demonstrated that successful elephant conservation cannot be achieved through legislation alone it requires sound ecological planning, transparent land governance, and meaningful community participation. The findings offer a blueprint for integrating MERs into Sri Lanka’s broader conservation strategy, ensuring that reserves function as true coexistence landscapes rather than paper parks. By documenting drivers of conflict and testing perception-based solutions, TERN and its partners created actionable recommendations that can guide policymakers, conservation agencies, and local stakeholders. The lessons extend beyond Hambantota: they highlight how evidence-based, community-driven approaches can be applied across Sri Lanka’s elephant range, where conflict continues to be a pressing issue.

REPORT

Overview of the Report
This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, and the proposed Managed Elephant Reserve (MER) as a mitigation measure. It traces the historical background of elephant conservation efforts in the region, identifies the driving factors behind conflict, and critically examines the land-use changes that have intensified the issue. The report highlights how mega-development projects, such as the Mattala Airport, Hambantota Port, expressways, and proposed solar thermal plants, have reshaped landscapes and directly impacted elephant movement and human livelihoods.
Key Themes and Analyses
•    Background and Rationale: Explains the significance of Hambantota as a dry-zone landscape critical for elephant movement, and outlines why the MER was first proposed.
•    Human–Elephant Relationships: Examines cultural, ecological, and economic factors that have historically shaped coexistence between people and elephants in Sri Lanka.
•    Impact of Development Projects: Provides detailed, evidence-based assessments of infrastructure projects and their unintended consequences for elephant habitats and local communities.
•    MER Declaration: Discusses the gazetting of the MER in 2021, its limitations (lack of clear landownership and management plan), and the urgent need for implementation strategies.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement

The report also documents the voices and actions of local communities, NGOs, and farmer associations, who have played a pivotal role in advocating for the MER. Sections cover:
•    Campaigns by civil society and NGOs,
•    Media advocacy efforts,
•    Farmer community resistance to illegal land reclamation, and
•    On-the-ground activities by villagers and wildlife guards to defend elephant habitats.

This local engagement is set against broader institutional involvement from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, and other agencies, making the report a valuable case study in multi-stakeholder conservation.
Project Implementation and Evidence Gathering. The latter part of the report focuses on the collaborative project led by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), and TERN.

Activities included:
•    Data collection and land-use surveys,
•    Capacity-building workshops for farmers,
•    Ground-level assessments of elephant movement and habitat use, and
•    A large-scale questionnaire survey to capture community perceptions and recommendations.

Why This Report Matters
By combining scientific data, stakeholder analysis, and community perspectives, the MER report provides a roadmap for practical conservation action. It is designed to inform policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and communities about the challenges and opportunities of implementing the MER as a long-term solution to HEC in Hambantota. The evidence and recommendations presented make this report a vital resource for anyone working on biodiversity conservation, land-use planning, or community-based environmental management in Sri Lanka.

Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through the generous support of the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF) and the leadership of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS). TERN gratefully acknowledges the contributions of:
•    Udawalawe Elephant Research Project (UWERP) for technical guidance.
•    The Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Central Environmental Authority, and Mahaweli Development Office, Sooriyawewa for institutional support.
•    Farmer associations of the Walawe Left Bank and Walsapugala, and task force members from Mayurapura, Walsapugala, Baragama, and Sooriyawewa for their active involvement.
•    Undergraduates of the Department of Natural Resources, Sabaragamuwa University for their role in survey analysis.
Above all, we thank the community members of Hambantota who, despite daily struggles, shared their experiences and placed their trust in this initiative. This project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between science, policy, and people in securing a future where elephants and humans can coexist.