In brief
On November 2, Sri Lanka announced the island‑wide 'Hasthi Sena' operation, begun in the North‑Western Wildlife Region, targeting 17 at‑risk elephants and covering about 80% of elephant habitats. The program brings together the Ministry of Environment, armed forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and includes raids on illegal weapons, explosive bait, electric fences and snares. The 20% of habitats not yet covered will be addressed under a separate initiative.
On Monday, Sri Lanka announced the launch of an island‑wide operation called Hasthi Sena to protect elephants and reduce human–elephant conflict, the Ministry of Environment said. The program began in the North‑Western Wildlife Region and is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment, the armed forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Srí Lanka’s own Xinhua newsroom reported the initiative on November 2, 2026, as an effort to shield the country’s remaining elephants and to tackle the escalating clashes between wildlife and local communities.
Background: A Long‑Standing Tension
Human‑elephant conflict has been a perennial issue in Sri Lanka, with elephants increasingly venturing into agricultural fields, hunting grounds and even villages whenever food and water become scarce. Farmers often retaliate by setting snares, using electric fences or deploying weapons, while elephants suffer injuries or are killed, leading to a vicious cycle. Last year the government noted that more than 1,200 elephants were reported to be in danger, and incidents of human injury or death increased across the island.
In 2024, the Department of Wildlife Conservation launched a pilot program that identified high‑risk zones and monitored elephant movements with GPS collars. However, critics argued that the initiative was limited in scope, covering only a handful of villages and lacking enforcement against illegal traps and firearms. The Hasthi Sena operation appears to be an expansion of that earlier effort, set to cover a majority of the habitats marked in the Department’s latest map.
Hasthi Sena: Scope and Structure
The core of the operation is a three‑body partnership: the Ministry of Environment, the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi indicated that the first phase will focus on 17 elephants identified as high‑risk because of their frequent run‑ins with people. “These elephants are among the most vulnerable in the country, and we are prioritizing their protection as a pilot for a larger effort,” the minister said.
“The initial phase will focus on 17 elephants identified as being at risk,” Minister Dammika Patabendi said.
The program aims to cover about 80 percent of areas inhabited by elephants. The remaining 20 percent, the ministry said, will be addressed under a separate, later‑phased initiative. The initiative includes a “No‑Entry” policy for elephants in key conflict zones and the construction of wildlife‑friendly water points. While the armed forces will provide logistical and protective support, the Department of Wildlife Conservation will oversee monitoring, data collection and community outreach.
Central to Hasthi Sena is a comprehensive raid strategy that targets illegal firearms, the so‑called explosive bait known locally as “hakka patas”, unauthorized electric fences and snares that threaten both elephants and local people. The Department of Wildlife Conservation plans to work with the Sri Lanka Police to dismantle these traps, confiscate weapons and prosecute offenders. The raids will be conducted in coordination with regional environmental officers and in real time with satellite imagery that identifies suspicious activity.
Open Questions and Expert Analysis
While several aspects of the operation are clear, critical questions remain. First, the logistics of coordinating between the ministries, military and conservation experts across 300+ villages and 17,000+ square kilometers is complex. The Army will need to deploy patrol units in remote areas; how will this be financed and staffed? Second, the operation will rely heavily on biometric and GPS data, but the data management infrastructure has yet to be publicly detailed. Third, the delayed coverage of 20 percent of habitats raises concerns about whether these regions—often the most impoverished—will receive sufficient protection.
Environmental scientists from the University of Colombo have noted that disruptively altering elephant habitats may push the animals further into human settlements, increasing the very conflict the program intends to reduce. “Wildlife corridors and policy enforcement must go hand‑in‑hand,” a senior biology professor explained. The University letter, widely reported on Xinhua, cautions that enforcement alone may not resolve underlying root causes such as land‑use change and lack of alternative livelihoods for rural communities.
Police officials have indicated that training workshops will be held for officers on how to confront animals safely while maintaining law enforcement duties. The Ministry of Environment has pledged the creation of a mobile response unit composed of veterinarians, wildlife officers and soldiers, aimed at swift intervention when an elephant is injured or disturbed. Whether these units will keep pace with the number of elephants in distress remains a point of scrutiny.
Implications and Future Developments
If successful, Hasthi Sena could set a precedent for other wildlife conservation efforts in South Asia. The operation’s integrated approach, combining military presence, scientific monitoring and legal enforcement, attempts to bridge gaps that have historically hampered elephant protection. Recent reports suggest that neighboring nations have begun to observe Sri Lanka’s strategy, though they have not yet committed to similar programs.
However, the operation's longevity will hinge on sustained funding, community buy‑in and the ability to adapt to changing ecological conditions. Xinhua’s authorials highlighted that while the ambitious programme promises an 80‑percent coverage of elephant habitats, fully safeguarding the species will require addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors that drive conflict.
As Sri Lanka rolls out Hasthi Sena, observers will focus on whether the joint forces can effectively reduce casualties on both sides of the human‑elephant divide and whether the strategy will mitigate the ongoing loss of biodiversity. The next few months will reveal whether the island’s ambitious conservation plan can coexist with its growing human population and agricultural demands.