For generations, wild elephants in southern Sri Lanka have followed the seasons between Udawalawe and Lunugamvehera National Parks, walking the same paths in search of food and water. The Watahirakanda forest, almost 1,400 hectares of it, is what makes that journey possible. We’re proud to say that, thanks to our partners at Wildlife Conservation International (WCI), this vital forest is now on its way to permanent protection.
It couldn’t come soon enough. Parts of the forest have been cleared for farming, and fences now cut across the routes elephants have used for generations. When elephants lose their paths, they are pushed towards villages and farms, and both people and elephants pay the price. The goal is simple: mark the forest boundary on the ground and have the area legally declared a Forest Reserve, so it is protected by law for the future.
Progress so far:
- Rooted in the community. A project office has opened in the nearby town of Thanamalwila, and our Project Coordinator lives and works close to the forest and the people around it. A bright elephant mural on the office wall has already made it a welcoming place for the community.
- Government on board. The project team has signed an official agreement with Sri Lanka’s Department of Forest Conservation, giving everyone clear roles and a shared roadmap.
- A clear line in the landscape. Production has begun on 1,400 concrete posts that will mark the forest’s entire 31.8 km edge. They will help stop the forest being slowly cleared, and they are a required step for legal protection.
- Discovering what lives there. A biodiversity survey led by a zoology lecturer from the University of Kelaniya began in October. It will guide the restoration work to come, including removing invasive plants and restoring open grassland so elephants and other wildlife have more natural food.
The road ahead
This work isn’t without challenges. The team has seen private electric fences blocking elephant paths and a large canal that can be dangerous for animals to cross. Some families also live within the forest area. The Forest Department plans to offer alternative land to those with valid permits, and community meetings will be held before the final posts are placed. Getting this right, fairly and carefully, is what will make the protection last.
Over the coming months, the team will meet with communities and authorities, confirm the final boundary and begin placing the posts, while the survey team returns to study the forest’s plants and wildlife in more detail.
Protecting a forest is long-term work, but the foundations are firmly in place, and we couldn’t be prouder to support this project or more excited about what comes next. We look forward to sharing more updates as the project progresses, and to the day the forest elephants have always relied on becomes one they can rely on forever.
