Colombo, Nov 13 (PTI) Long after the gunshots have faded in Sri Lanka's forests, the pain remains. Deep inside the bodies of some of the wild elephants, metal fragments from bullets continue to lie embedded, turning survival into a prolonged ordeal of infections and injuries that may never heal completely.
The scale of the suffering is striking.
According to a report in news portal Daily Mirror, the celebrated tusker Agbo, one of Sri Lanka's most iconic, tallest, and largest wild Asian elephants, is believed to be carrying at least 75 kg of lead from bullets inside its body, while the famous blind Galgamuwa tusker has more than 25 kg of metal fragments lodged in it following gunshot injuries.
The figures, highlighted by environmental activist Nayanaka Ranwella, offer a glimpse into the less visible consequences of elephant poaching in Sri Lanka, where animals that escape death from gunfire are often left to endure its effects for years.
The weapons used against them are often crude, locally manufactured firearms known as 'Gal Katas'.
According to Ranwella, poachers and some farmers use ammunition made from iron balls, bucket hooks and scrap metal, which scatter inside an elephant's body when fired.
The resulting wounds can be extensive.
Describing Agbo's condition, Ranwella said, "Countless gunshot wounds can be seen all over the body of the famous wild tusker Agbo. At least 75 gunshot wounds can be seen within a single square-foot area of its body. Some of the wounds have healed, but the iron fragments remain embedded inside the body. Others are still open and have not healed.”
For the elephants, the ordeal does not necessarily end when the wounds close.
Metal fragments could remain lodged inside their bodies for years, causing chronic inflammation, recurring infections, abscesses and persistent pain. Some animals also experience difficulty walking, the report said, quoting a senior veterinary association official.
Removing the fragments is not always possible, particularly when they are lodged deep inside the body or close to vital organs. Affected elephants may need prolonged veterinary treatment, while some are left with permanent damage.
Ranwella has accused successive governments and wildlife authorities of failing to effectively tackle poaching and other illegal activities in forest areas.
He said he had been raising concerns about elephant killings for nearly 15 years, without seeing adequate action.
According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, 289 elephants died between January 1 and October 23 this year. The cause of death was unidentified in 95 cases, while gunshot injuries accounted for 42 deaths.
Between 2010 and October 23, 2026, Sri Lanka recorded 5,397 elephant deaths. The annual toll peaked at 488 in 2023, while 455 elephants died in 2025 and 439 in 2022.
Sri Lanka, home to some of the largest Asian elephants, has seen adult males grow to around 10 feet in height. The late tusker Kavantissa, measuring approximately 11 feet, was regarded as one of the tallest in the country.
In an effort to strengthen protection, the government launched an islandwide operation called 'Hasthi Sena' (Elephant Force) at Galkiriyagama in the North Central province on November 2.
The initiative will initially focus on protecting 17 elephants facing threats, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi said.
Sri Lanka's relationship with elephants has itself been marked by a long history of exploitation and resistance.
During British colonial rule, elephant hunting was encouraged to clear land for plantations. Major Thomas William Rogers, a colonial officer in Badulla, was estimated to have killed between 1,400 and 2,000 elephants, according to the Daily Mirror report.
One of the most enduring symbols of resistance against the exploitation of wild elephants is the Panamure tusker, which was killed on August 10, 1950.
Its killing triggered public outrage and parliamentary debate, contributing to the eventual end of elephant kraals (massive, fenced wooden enclosures built to trap wild elephants) in the country.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)