Sri Lanka to Conduct Nationwide Elephant Census
Sri Lanka's Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) will conduct a national elephant census from August 17-19 across 3,100 survey centers.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in Sri Lanka is preparing to launch a nationwide elephant census from August 17-19.
This extensive survey will be conducted by DWC staff, volunteers, security forces, and students, who will be stationed at more than 3,100 survey centers across the island.
The census, which will focus on counting elephants at designated water holes, comes after the last survey in 2011 recorded 5,879 elephants and the survey found that 55% of the population were adults, 25% were young, 12% were calves, and 6% were infants.
Despite the importance of this data for conservation efforts, the methodology has faced criticism. Environmentalists argue that counting elephants at water holes may lead to overestimation. Elephants often visit multiple water sources in a single night, increasing the chance of double-counting.
Nonetheless, this census is expected to provide crucial data to aid in the ongoing efforts to conserve Sri Lanka's elephant population and manage its wildlife effectively.