Conservationists and veterinarians warn that plastic waste in open landfills in eastern Sri Lanka is killing elephants in the region. The warning comes after two more dead elephants were found over the weekend.
About 20 elephants have died over the past eight years after eating plastic waste at a garbage dump in Pallakkadu village in Ampara district, about 210 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo.
Wildlife veterinarian Nihal Pushpakumara said examination of the dead animals showed that they had ingested large amounts of non-biodegradable plastic found in landfills.
"Polythene, food wrappers, plastic, other non-digestible materials and water are the only things we can see at the post mortem. The normal food that elephants eat and digest is not clear," he was quoted as saying by Phys.org, Monday (17). /1/2022).
Elephants are highly respected creatures in Sri Lanka. This animal is now threatened with extinction. Their numbers have dwindled from about 14,000 in the 19th century to 6,000 in 2011, according to the country's first elephant census.
Their existence is increasingly vulnerable due to the degradation and loss of their natural habitat. Many venture closer to human settlements in search of food, and some are killed by poachers or angry farmers for destroying their crops.
"Hungry elephants look for food in landfills, eating plastic and sharp objects that damage their digestive systems," said Pushpakumara.
The elephants then stopped eating and became too weak to support their heavy body. When that happens, they cannot consume food or water, and accelerate their death process.
In 2017, the government announced it would recycle waste in landfills near wildlife zones to prevent elephants from consuming plastic waste. They also said they would erect an electric fence around the site to keep the animals away. However, to date these plans have not been fully implemented.
There are 54 landfills in wildlife zones across Sri Lanka, with around 300 elephants roaming near them. The waste management site in Pallakkadu village was established in 2008 with assistance from the European Union. Garbage collected from nine nearby villages is dumped there but is not recycled.
In 2014, the electric fence protecting the site was struck by lightning and the authorities never fixed it so elephants could enter and ruffle the landfill. Residents said the elephant had moved closer and settled near the sinkhole, sparking fear among nearby villagers.
Many use firecrackers to ward off elephants as they roam the village, and some install electric fences around their homes. But villagers often do not know how to properly install electric fences thereby endangering their own lives as well as the elephants.
"Even though we call it a threat, wild elephants are also a resource. Authorities need to find ways to protect human and elephant lives that also allow us to continue agricultural activities," he said.