IntelScoops

Colombo – August 3, 2025 — In a bid to curb the rising number of wild elephant deaths due to train collisions, Sri Lankan authorities have begun installing surveillance and early-warning systems along key railway lines that intersect elephant corridors, officials confirmed on Saturday.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in collaboration with Sri Lanka Railways and the Ministry of Transport, includes the deployment of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and motion-sensor detectors in high-risk areas across the North-Central, Eastern, and Uva Provinces.

Over the past decade, dozens of elephants—some of them calves—have been fatally struck by speeding trains, particularly along the Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Northern railway lines. Wildlife experts have long raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure and real-time monitoring to prevent such tragic incidents.

“These systems are being installed in zones identified as high-frequency crossing points for elephant herds,” said a senior official from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The sensors will alert railway control rooms when elephant movement is detected near tracks, allowing drivers to slow down or stop in time.”

Initial installations have already been completed near Welikanda and Habarana, with expansion expected to continue over the next three months. The technology was developed in partnership with local engineers and supported by foreign conservation funding.

Transport Ministry officials said train drivers would receive real-time alerts through an integrated dashboard system, while wildlife teams stationed nearby could respond quickly in case herds are spotted in danger zones.

Conservationists have cautiously welcomed the move but urged the government to also consider structural changes—such as underpasses or overpasses specifically for elephants—as long-term solutions.

“This is a step in the right direction. But Sri Lanka must go further and treat wildlife crossings as essential infrastructure, just like we do with roads and bridges,” said Dr. Anjalee Herath, a wildlife ecologist.

Sri Lanka is home to nearly 6,000 wild elephants, and human-elephant conflict continues to pose a serious challenge across the island, both in rural villages and now increasingly along major transportation routes.

Officials said the effectiveness of the CCTV and sensor system would be closely monitored over the coming months, with plans to review data and expand coverage based on results.