Environment and nature education centre coordinator Ravindra Kariyawasam says these animals are without food or water in their habitats.

They come in contact with humans when they cross one national park to another, as villages are located in between.

A solution will be to create jungle belts to allow them to change their habitats, said Kariyawasam.

It will take up around 12 years to create jungle belts, but it will be an important long-term step, he said, adding the erection of electric fences will not be a solution.

The wildlife department says animals in the wild are being provided with water by way of supplying water to artificial ponds.

Forest cover

Sri Lanka’s forest cover dwindled from 82 per cent in 1882 to 16 pc in 2016, with an FAO report ranking the country in fourth place in the level of destruction of jungles.

At least 24 pc of forest cover is needed to protect biodiversity and fauna and flora.

Especially, failure to protect jungles in the hill country will create a shortage of even drinking water, said Kariyawasam.