Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) is one of Sri Lanka’s most urgent conservation and livelihood challenges. In Hambantota, mega-development and unplanned land use have intensified conflict, leaving both elephants and farmers at risk. TERN, in collaboration with WNPS and the Lanka Environmental Fund, is investigating how land-use changes and failed implementation of the Managed Elephant Reserve (MER) have shaped this crisis. By combining ecological research, land-use analysis, and community engagement, the project works to generate practical recommendations and support local farmers in creating sustainable, long-term solutions for coexistence.

Human–wildlife conflict is one of the most pressing conservation and livelihood challenges in Sri Lanka. Among these conflicts, Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) stands out as the most severe, threatening the survival of elephants while devastating rural communities who lose crops, property, and sometimes lives. At TERN, we work to understand the drivers of conflict and to develop sustainable solutions through ecological studies, social research, land-use analysis, and collaborative action. Our research spans documenting animal ecology, studying human perceptions and behaviors, investigating land use changes, and testing innovative mitigation strategies.

The Hambantota Case Study

In the dry to arid landscapes of Hambantota, HEC has intensified over the past two decades due to mega-development projects, unplanned agricultural expansion, and extensive forest clearance. Between 2008–2012, local communities and government stakeholders proposed creating a reserve to accommodate elephant populations and safeguard their movement corridors. This initiative was never implemented. Later, during the establishment of the Hambantota Airport and Port, a Managed Elephant Reserve (MER) was recommended as a mitigation measure.
However, large portions of this land were illegally encroached upon or allocated to development projects. By the time the MER was gazetted in 2021, it lacked both legal clarity on land ownership and a practical management plan. As a result, instead of reducing HEC, the declaration further complicated the situation, leaving farmers, elephants, and conservationists in an ongoing struggle.

TERN’s Role and Collaborative Action

This project, supported by the Lanka Environmental Fund (LEF) and implemented in partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), aims to unpack the Hambantota situation from multiple angles. Our objectives are to:
•    Analyze how land use changes and mega-development projects have shaped HEC in Hambantota.
•    Examine the failure of the MER implementation process and its implications.
•    Document stakeholder responses, from farmers and NGOs to wildlife officers and government authorities.
•    Collect ground data and community perceptions to develop context-specific recommendations.

Our research combines land-use mapping, questionnaire surveys, farmer focus groups, and capacity-building workshops. The work is grounded in evidence but strongly participatory, recognizing that solutions must be co-developed with the communities most affected.

Community Voices and Stakeholder Engagement

Through farmer interviews and workshops, we documented a strong sense of frustration among rural communities who face crop losses and fear for their safety while watching forest lands meant for elephants being encroached or reallocated. Despite limited resources, local farmers and community groups have taken significant actions:
•    Protesting against illegal land reclamation in the MER.
•    Organizing ground-level activities to defend elephant ranges.
•    Partnering with NGOs, media campaigns, and wildlife guards’ associations to amplify their voices.

These local struggles illustrate both the urgency of resolving the HEC crisis in Hambantota and the potential for meaningful collaboration between communities, conservationists, and policymakers.

Next Steps

Our findings emphasize that managing HEC cannot rely solely on legal declarations or infrastructure. It requires:
•    Transparent land management to protect elephant corridors and habitats.
•    Community-based conservation models that include farmers as key stakeholders.
•    Evidence-based mitigation measures, ranging from land-use planning to sustainable agriculture.
•    Capacity building and awareness, ensuring that communities have the knowledge and tools to reduce conflict safely and effectively.

The Hambantota project marks an important step in TERN’s broader commitment to conflict mitigation. By integrating ecological research with social perspectives and policy analysis, we aim to bridge the gap between conservation and community needs. Moving forward, TERN seeks to expand this work through collaborative projects that not only address immediate conflict but also pave the way for long-term coexistence between people and wildlife across Sri Lanka.