What Elephants Know | Ep 7 – Sri Lanka | Wild animals

Sri Lanka is one of the only countries where humans and elephants share almost half of the land, turning everyday life into a delicate conversation. As the plantations grow into the ancient ways of elephants, this coexistence has become increasingly violent: families lose crops, homes, and loved ones, while elephants face increased violence and hundreds of deaths each year.

Through the story of Nishanti and her children – still grieving the death of their husband and father – and the paddy farmers who guard their fields night and night, the story puts us in the daily reality of communities that live under constant fear. Their experiences reveal the reparations that both sides suffer, yet only the people have a voice to express their pain.

Conservationist Pruthu offers a way forward, revealing how current solutions such as relocation change the problem, and argues that real change begins with understanding the behavior and needs of elephants. As teachers work with young people to reframe attitudes, a faint hope emerges that Sri Lanka can transform its deadly conflict into a model of coexistence before its elephants die out.

Video of Fatima Lianes