Kavantissa, Sri Lanka's Tallest Bull, Dies After Gunshot Wound

Kavantissa died on October 16.

The male elephant was shot in the leg.

Villagers in Galgamuwa discovered the wound in late September.

Veterinary surgeons treated the animal.

He did not survive.

Kavantissa was believed to be 45 years old.

He stood 3.3 meters high.

He weighed approximately 5,500 kilograms.

He was the tallest living male elephant in Sri Lanka.

He ranged across the northwest near Galgamuwa.

Sri Lanka records the most elephant deaths globally each year.

The island also has the second highest number of human deaths from elephant encounters worldwide. Since 2019, an average of 370 elephants and 125 people have died annually in these incidents. The island holds about 10% of the world's Asian elephants. This species occupies only 2% of its total natural range globally. Sri Lanka has the highest density of Asian elephants anywhere. The Sri Lankan elephant is listed as an endangered subspecies on the IUCN Red List. National law protects the species with fines and jail terms for wildlife offenses. Experts report that elephants are still shot, poisoned, hit by trains, or killed by explosives hidden in food. Forest cover has shrunk over recent decades. The rural population rose from 8.25 million in 1960 to 17.8 million in 2020. Farming remains the main source of income in rural areas. Land continues to be cleared for agriculture. The Department of Wildlife Conservation estimated 7,451 wild elephants in 2024. About 70% of these animals live outside protected areas. Each elephant requires roughly 150 kilograms of green matter daily. This need draws them toward fields. Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, said habitat loss and agricultural expansion drive the conflict. He noted that fragmented elephant corridors and competition for land intensify the problem. Corea stated that crop losses threaten rural families' main source of food and income. He observed that despite government efforts, the numbers are still rising. A national action plan drafted in 2020 provides a foundation. Corea said it needs a comprehensive conservation strategy with enforceable habitat protection. Non-governmental groups run community programs. Project Orange Elephant in the Wasgamuwa region encourages farmers to grow citrus that elephants avoid. This cuts crop raiding while providing extra income. Electric fencing protects settlements and farmland. The EleFriendly bus service in the same region carries schoolchildren through elephant corridors. This service has reduced dangerous encounters along its original route by more than 90%. Kamal Shashendra, an environmental ethics researcher based in Sri Lanka, said any just solution must protect human lives, livelihoods, and elephant populations. He stated this requires scientifically informed land-use planning, protected corridors, community-based fencing, effective early-warning systems, and fair compensation for affected families.