News
Whither our wildlife in 2026?
View(s):By Malaka Rodrigo
Sri Lanka’s wildlife deaths have begun the New Year on a grim note, with the first reported leopard death of 2026 occurring in Neluwa, Galle, after the animal was caught in an illegal wire snare. Within days, a young elephant calf was also killed in a collision with a lorry, underscoring the persistent threats faced by the country’s iconic fauna.
The snared leopard was found in a tea estate within a landscape that forms part of the greater Sinharaja forest complex, an area of exceptional ecological value and one that supports a distinct rainforest-adapted leopard population. Wildlife officials confirmed that the animal had suffered severe internal injuries while struggling to free itself from the snare, ultimately succumbing despite intervention.
Leopard killed in Neluwa, Galle, on January 6 was alive when it was first spotted, but eventually succumbed to its injuries . Pic courtesy DWC
Veterinary surgeons attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) have once again appealed to the public not to approach wild animals caught in snares, warning that human presence often worsens injuries. “When people gather around, animals panic and attempt to escape more violently, causing deeper damage to their internal organs that are often fatal, even not visible to outside”, said Dr. Akalanka Pinidiya, a wildlife veterinary surgeon attached to DWC.
The leopard is a wild animal and panics in the presence of humans. But sadly when one of these felines gets trapped, over hundreds of people gather to have a glimpse of the victim. It creates a very difficult situation even for the Wildlife Officers to manage, Dr.Pinidiya said. The wire snares often primarily target game animals such as wild boar, but sadly the majority of leopard deaths are due to these deadly loops.
Leopards inhabiting the Sinharaja–Neluwa–Kalawana forest belt are considered ecologically significant. Studies and field observations indicate that these leopards show adaptations linked to dense rainforest habitats and different prey availability. They also play a critical role as apex predators in maintaining the balance of Sri Lanka’s last major lowland rainforest ecosystem.
However, these forests are increasingly becoming ecological islands, fragmented by tea estates, villages, access roads, and small-scale agriculture. Leopards frequently move across forest edges, bringing them into closer contact with humans—and into the reach of wire snares set primarily for wild boar and porcupines.
Though illegal, snares remain widespread due to weak enforcement and the high cost of crop losses borne by rural communities.
Elephant calf killed on the road
A young elephant calf was killed after being struck by a lorry, between Galgamuwa and Abanpola highlighting the ongoing danger posed by high-speed traffic on roads cutting across elephant ranges. R.M.J. Bandara who reported the incident to the SundayTimes noted that calves are particularly vulnerable, often lagging behind herds when crossing roads at night or during periods of poor visibility.
Elephant calf killed between Galgamuwa and Abanpola on January 9 is one of the first victim of 2026 . Pic by RMJ Bandara.
These deaths come against the backdrop of a devastating toll in 2025, during which 438 elephants were killed, one of the highest annual figures recorded in recent history after recorded higher numbers in 2023 and 2022 which accounted for 488 and 439 elephant deaths respectively. Conservationists fear that without urgent, science-based mitigation measures, 2026 could follow a similar trajectory.
As Sri Lanka steps into a new year, the deaths of a leopard in Sinharaja’s shadow and an elephant calf on a highway serve as stark reminders that the war against wildlife has not paused with the calendar—and that coexistence remains an unfulfilled promise.
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