Struggle to survive kills humans, elephants in rural Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Human-Elephant conflict has begun to take an increasingly devastating toll on life, of late.

In 24 hours, a family in Anuradhapura lost a father, while another lost a mother in Rajagalathenna.

A 39-year-old father of three was mauled to death by a wild elephant when he was in a jungle to collect bee honey.

An eye-witness said the wild elephant chased after three people, including the victim, through the jungle, however, the victim fell and that was the last time they saw him alive.

A local villager said the 50 acre plot of thick forest is surrounded by villages and encroaching wild elephants has been a perennial issue.

Over in Ampara, a 65-year-old mother came face to face with a lone elephant early this morning.

She was killed instantly and her son who was seriously injured was rushed to hospital.

At the same time, a family of five, parentd and three children, miraculously survived a wild elephant attack on their house in Hambantota.

The man had jumped in front of the elephant and hurled a lamp at it in order to protect his family.

Though the family survive, their houses was turned to rubble.

A wild elephant also brought down a house in Walsapugala, leaving a single-mother and her children with no home.

All these victims have one request in common to the authorities, a permanent solution to the human elephant conflict.

It should be noted that none of them want the wild elephants to be harmed, but they only want a means to survive without any fear.