Abstract:
Natural habitat distraction for human needs occurring at an alarming rate countrywide. Human
Elephant Conflict (HEC) has averagely resulted over 250 elephant deaths, 75 human deaths, 70
human injuries, 1,400 property damages, and considerable crop damages annually. Lack of
connectivity among Protected Areas (PAs), forestlands and other environmentally sensitive areas
due to forest fragmentation strongly stands as leading causes of HEC. Establishment of
ecological connectivity via ecological corridors allows necessary roaming space, fodder and
water accessibility for elephants. Simultaneously, it allows in-situ conservation of elephants and
improve biodiversity and ecological servicers to the area. Therefore, this study analyzed
importance of establishment of ecological connectivity as an effective approach of HEC
mitigation in Sri Lanka. Spatial changes of forest cover in seven Divisional Secretariat Divisions
(DSD) in Polonnaruwa District was examined. Correlation of ecological connectivity and
human, elephant deaths was analyzed in comparison to DSDs with ecological connectivity and
without. Vegetation cover changes of the given areas were analyzed by NDVI method based on
the satellite images extracted from Landsat 8 and Arc GIS 10.1. KII was conducted with officers
of Department of Wildlife Conservation. To eliminate area differences in each DS division, HEC
Density was calculated by sq.Km per HEC related human and elephant deaths for each DS
Division from 2013-2017. Population of each DSD also taking in to consideration. Severe
fragmentation and highest elephant, human deaths and HEC Density were identified in
Dimbulagala DSD in each year of the study period and followed by Welikanda DSD.
Hingurakgoda DSD had the lowest HEC intensity per sq.Km among all the other DSDs. Sri
Lanka’s only ecological corridor/ Elephant corridor establishment present at PAs within
Hingurakgoda DSD. Minneriya-Kaudulla National Parks facilitate as a corridor between the
Minneriya and Somawathie National Parks, and increases seasonal movement and free roaming
among Minneriya-Kudulla National Parks and Hururu Forest Reserve and surrounding
wilderness, which brings an evidence for strong positive co-relation between ecological
connectivity and HEC. In comprising of Dimbulagala or Walikanda DSDs that no ecological
connectivity and situated in between Maduru Oya and Mahaweli Flood Plain protected areas.
Indeed, lack of forest connectivity due to land use pattern changes has positive correlation with
Human elephant conflict. Therefore, serious attention needs to be given for establishment of
Ecological connectivity as an effective HEC mitigation approach in vulnerable areas.
