Over the past eight years, more than twenty elephants have died this way. Two deceased elephants recently made national newspapers after images surfaced of the animals searching for food among the rubbish. A video of conservationists removing plastic from the rectum of one of the animals was widely shared on social media.
Wildlife activists have called for more action to protect the animals as about five elephants die each year under similar conditions. There are more than fifty garbage dumps on the island. But significantly more elephants in Sri Lanka are killed by explosives, electrocution through electric fences or because they were shot. According to official figures, 369 elephants were killed from unnatural causes last year.
According to the last census ten years ago, there are about 6000 elephants in the country.