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Sri Lanka's wildlife encyclopedia

Sri Lankan Elephant

ශ්‍රී ලංකා අලියා இலங்கை யானை

Elephas maximus maximus

EndangeredEndemic subspecies

Sri Lankan Elephant
Sumudusoyza007 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

The largest of the Asian elephant subspecies and the island’s biggest land animal. Only a small share of males carry tusks; most bulls are tuskless ‘aliyas’. Loss of forest has pushed elephants into farmland, and human–elephant conflict is one of the country’s most serious conservation problems.

Named animals

MissakaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · 19 April 2018 Missaka Missaka was a 35-year-old tusker regarded as an icon of Yala National Park, with tusks about three feet long. He was found injured on 15 April 2018 near…
Kabila (Thani Dalaya)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild bull · Yala Kabila (Thani Dalaya) Kabila, also called Thani Dalaya ('the single tusker'), is a young bull of the Sithulpawwa area of Yala. In June 2017 he was reported to have fatally wounded…
Sudu AliyaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild white elephant · Yala · 1993 – Sudu Aliya Sudu Aliya ('white elephant') is a female white elephant of Yala, the first recorded in Sri Lanka and described by researchers as the only one known living free…
RanaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Rana Rana is a young tusker of Yala's Gemunu group, the park's most habituated herd. According to researchers at the Centre for Conservation and Research, some wildlife officials mistook…
DeviA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild female elephant · Yala Devi Devi was a female of Yala's Gemunu group and the mother of the famous tusker Gemunu, who was born around 1988–1990. Researchers at the Centre for Conservation and…
BisoA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild female elephant · Yala Biso Biso was an older female of Yala and the namesake of the Biso group, a herd of about 20–25 elephants studied by the Centre for Conservation and Research.…
Biso-MenikeA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild female elephant · Yala Biso-Menike Biso-Menike is a female of Yala's Biso group, presumed to be the daughter of Biso, and was fitted with a radio collar by researchers of the Centre for…
DisaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · August 2021 – Disa Disa (also written Dissa) is one of the male twins born to Surangi at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in August 2021, the first twin elephant births recorded there;…
SajjanaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · August 2021 – Sajjana Sajjana is one of the male twins born to Surangi at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in August 2021, the first twin elephant births recorded there; his father is…
NeelamaniA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Neelamani Neelamani is a female calf born at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to the mother Rajina and the bull Pandu. She was named at the same January 2022 ceremony…
BandulaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Dehiwala Zoo tusker · September 2022 Bandula Bandula was a tusker and the oldest elephant at the Dehiwala Zoo. He was taken in by wildlife officers as a young calf that had become separated from…
BhanuA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ridiyagama Safari Park (former) Bhanu Bhanu is a tusker said to have been gifted to the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya. In October 2016 wildlife officers took him into custody because no acceptable proof…
KalanaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ridiyagama Safari Park Kalana Kalana is an elephant belonging to the historic Devinuwara Sri Upulvan Devalaya. In September 2018 the Department of Wildlife Conservation took him to the Ridiyagama Safari Park for…
KaavanA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Sri Lankan elephant abroad Kaavan Kaavan is a male elephant that Sri Lanka's government under President J.R. Jayewardene gifted to Pakistan in 1985 as a baby. He lived at the Islamabad zoo, from…
Mali (Vishwamali)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Sri Lankan elephant abroad · 28 November 2023 Mali (Vishwamali) Mali, formally Vishwamali, was a female elephant found orphaned in the Sri Lankan wild and sent by Sri Lanka in 1977, at about three years old, as a…
ShanthiA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Sri Lankan elephant abroad · about 1975 – 26 June 2020 Shanthi Shanthi was a female elephant born in Sri Lanka around 1975 and cared for as an orphan at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. In 1976 she was sent to…
LucyA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Sri Lankan elephant abroad · about 1975 – Lucy Lucy is a female elephant born in the wild in Sri Lanka and orphaned, who came through the Pinnawala orphanage and arrived at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in…
Dala PuttuwaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 2017 Dala Puttuwa Dala Puttuwa was a much-loved wild tusker of the Galgamuwa area, named for his crossed tusks. He had poor eyesight and was often seen out in the open;…
MahasenA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Minneriya Mahasen Mahasen is a giant cross-tusked wild tusker, reported in 2017 to be about 12 feet tall with tusks about six feet long; he is sometimes called "Kathira Dala…
KawanthissaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 16 October 2026 Kawanthissa Kawanthissa (also spelt Kavantissa) was a huge wild tusker of the Galgamuwa area in Kurunegala District, about 11 feet tall with tusks over six feet long, and was…
Galgamuwe ChandiA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · July 2024 Galgamuwe Chandi Galgamuwe Chandi, also called Eka Danthaya ("the single-tusked one"), was a wild tusker from Ehetuwewa in the Galgamuwa area. Wildlife officials moved him away several times, to Somawathiya…
BathiyaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · 15 July 2025 Bathiya Bathiya (also spelt Bhathiya) was a well-built wild tusker of the Kalawewa and Polpithigama forests, roughly 30 to 35 years old and popular with photographers. In mid-2025 he…
RevathaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · 9 March 2021 Revatha Revatha (also spelt Rewatha), nicknamed "Adambarakaaraya", was the largest and most dominant tusker of the Kala Wewa – Balalu Wewa reserve, even though his tusks were short. Wildlife…
BaranaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · 26 July 2022 Barana Barana (also spelt Bharana) was a regal tusker of about 35 years with tusks about four feet long, often seen around Kalawewa National Park and Namal Uyana, where…
Deega Danthu 1A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · November 2024 Deega Danthu 1 Deega Danthu 1 (also spelt Deegadanthu or Dheeghadanthu) had the longest tusks among the tuskers of Kala Wewa and was described as about 45 to 50 years old…
Parakrama (Siyambalangamuwa Maha Etha)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 23 November 2010 Parakrama (Siyambalangamuwa Maha Etha) Parakrama, also known as the Siyambalangamuwa Maha Etha, was a tusker of about 35 years from the Galgamuwa scrub forests, famous for his long, thick, even tusks; he…
WasanthaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Wilpattu · 2014 Wasantha Wasantha was a shy, gentle tusker seen in Wilpattu after the park reopened in 2003, and later often around Hunuwilgala village and nearby lakes such as Galgadawala. He…
UnicornA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Minneriya · March 2025 Unicorn Unicorn was a well-known single-tusked dominant bull of Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks, often seen with female elephants during Minneriya's yearly elephant "Gathering". He was shot by unidentified…
KoliyaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Minneriya · 2024 Koliya Koliya was a young tusker of Minneriya National Park who usually moved with the long-tusked bull Sumedha. He was shot in 2024, and his decomposed body was found…
Sumedha (Minneriya)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Minneriya Sumedha (Minneriya) Sumedha is a long-tusked bull that roams Minneriya and Kaudulla at certain times of the year, and has also been seen around Kalawewa, Kekirawa, Ganewalpola and Namal Uyana.…
SapumalA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Minneriya Sapumal Sapumal is a tusker of about 25 years, known for tusks over two and a half feet long, linked to Hurulu Eco Park and Minneriya National Park. On…
WalagambaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild elephant · Kala Wewa Walagamba Walagamba was the dominant bull of the Kalawewa herd, a herd known for its many tuskers. The writer of a 2014 tribute first saw him at Kalawewa in…
GajabaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · North Central Gajaba Gajaba was described in a 2020 Mongabay photo essay as the largest wild tusker in Sri Lanka, standing an estimated 3.1 m at the shoulder. He lives in…
WasabaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · North Central Wasaba Wasaba is an aggressive bull of the North Central Province, photographed in musth by wildlife photographer Rajiv Welikala for a 2020 Mongabay photo essay on Sri Lanka's tuskers.…
Maha PoottuwaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Maha Poottuwa Maha Poottuwa ('the big crossed one') was a cross-tusked bull of Yala Block I; his right tusk crossed over his left. He first appeared in the late 1950s…
Podi PoottuwaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · 1987 Podi Poottuwa Podi Poottuwa ('the small crossed one') was a Yala cross-tusker that followed Maha Poottuwa; his left tusk crossed over his right. He grew into a fine tusker and…
Walaskema TuskerA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Walaskema Tusker The Walaskema tusker of Yala Block II was the first of Yala's famous cross-tuskers, named after the Walaskema water-hole he visited regularly. In the 1950s naturalist Dr H.…
Raja (Yala)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · late 1970s Raja (Yala) Raja was a wild Yala tusker, smaller than most bulls but with long, big and symmetrical tusks. Naturalist Dr. H. I. E. Katugaha records that he was a…
Kublai KhanA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · 2009 (carcass found 23 August 2009) Kublai Khan Kublai Khan was a photogenic Yala tusker named after the Mongol emperor. Wildlife photographer Lal Anthonis first saw him in December 1987 near Patanangala, when he was about…
Genghis KhanA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Genghis Khan Genghis Khan was a large Yala tusker. Wildlife photographer Lal Anthonis saw him in August 1987 and describes him as much older and bigger than Kublai Khan; the…
AnuradhaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Anuradha Anuradha is a tusker of Yala National Park, recognised by his unusually large head and relatively short tusks. Jetwing Eco Holidays notes his bad temper and calls him…
Dala KotaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · April 2023 Dala Kota Dala Kota was described as the biggest tusker in Yala National Park and drew many tourists; he lived mostly in Zone 6 and stood about eight and a…
Walawe RajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe Walawe Raja Walawe Raja (often just 'Raja') was the best-known tusker of Udawalawe National Park. For years he came into the park each year around June/July to October, usually in…
Sumedha (Udawalawe)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe Sumedha (Udawalawe) Sumedha is a large tusker of Udawalawe National Park and, after Walawe Raja disappeared, became the park's dominant bull. He has well-shaped tusks, a large (bullet) hole in…
AsokaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe Asoka Asoka (also written Ashoka) was one of the four mature tuskers known in Udawalawe National Park, alongside Walawe Raja, Sumedha and the Kalthota tusker. He was found dead…
Kalthota Tusker (Kalthota Raja)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe Kalthota Tusker (Kalthota Raja) The Kalthota tusker, also called Kalthota Raja, was named as one of the four mature tuskers seen in Udawalawe National Park around 2010, together with Walawe Raja, Sumedha…
RamboA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild elephant · Udawalawe Rambo Rambo is a famous wild bull of Udawalawe National Park who for about two decades has stood behind the electric fence on the reservoir bund along the Thanamalwila…
MugalanA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe · December 2018 Mugalan Mugalan was a young tusker, about 10–12 years old, who regularly visited Udawalawe National Park and was often driven back into the park by wildlife officers after straying…
Bullet (Senadi)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Udawalawe Bullet (Senadi) Bullet, also called Senadi, is a young tusker released into Udawalawe National Park by the Elephant Transit Home; in 2013 he was described as 10–12 years old. He…
NamalA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Orphan · Elephant Transit Home Namal Namal is a male elephant at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (Ath Athuru Sevana). He was brought in as a calf with his left hind leg caught in…
SamaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Sama Sama is a three-legged elephant at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage who lost the lower part of the right foreleg to an anti-personnel landmine during Sri Lanka's war, and…
VijayaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · 1999 Vijaya Vijaya was one of the five orphaned elephants with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in February 1975. A wild-born male, he became the orphanage's main breeding bull:…
KumariA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1965 – Kumari Kumari is a wild-born female who was one of the five orphans with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. With the bull Vijaya she produced the…
NeelaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1964 – Neela Neela is a wild-born male and one of the five orphaned elephants with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. The Elephant Database lists him among Pinnawala's…
MathaliA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1970 – Mathali Mathali (also written Matali) is a wild-born female and one of the five orphans with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. With Vijaya she is recorded…
PanduA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · 5 May 2004 – Pandu Pandu is a male elephant born on 5 May 2004 at Chettikulam, Vavuniya, who was brought to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on 26 September 2004. He is the…
SurangiA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · 26 November 1996 – Surangi Surangi is a female elephant born on 26 November 1996 who came to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in 1997 from Trincomalee. She gave birth to a calf, Kannaka,…
SinharajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Sinharaja A Sri Dalada Maligawa tusker who was once the mascot of the Sinha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, which gifted him to the Maligawa in 1994. In…
MaitriA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial elephant · Dalada Maligawa Maitri An elephant picked from the Udawalawe elephant transit home (Eth Athuru Sevana) and gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1999. In 2017 he…
RajuA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa · 3 February 2006 (Pinnawala) – Raju A tusker born on 3 February 2006 at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to Neelagiri and Punchi. He was given to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President Mahinda Rajapaksa…
SinduA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Asgiri chapter, Kandy · Pinnawala – Sindu A single-tusked elephant from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage who was Raju's playmate there. He was given over in 2009 at the request of the Kandy temple authorities, along…
MigaraA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Migara One of the eight tuskers belonging to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in 2017. That year the Maligawa said Migara would not be available during the perahera season, adding…
KadiraA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Kadira A tusker bought for 25,000 rupees by the late Diyawadana Nilame Nissanka Wijeratne with his own money and gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, so that the tusker…
EkadanthaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Ekadantha A one-tusked elephant, described as the most docile tusker in the Sri Dalada Maligawa stables. In 1977, when three Pinnawala tuskers were put up for sale, former Health…
KandaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Historic ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Kanda The lifelong companion of the famous Maligawa Raja. Tikiri Banda Mampitiya Disawa of Giragama Walauwa bought the two young tuskers together in December 1925 from the merchant Ummeru…
Kataragama WasanaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Kataragama Devalaya Kataragama Wasana The tusker of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, bought in 1977 by former minister Vimala Kannangara and gifted to the Devalaya. He has carried the Sacred Tooth Relic…
Ruwan RajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Gangaramaya · 2003 Ruwan Raja A tusker gifted to the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple in 1996 by the Morawatte Walauwa of Ratnapura; once called 'Dala kota', he was renamed after Ratnapura. He carried the…
Athula RajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · Gangaramaya Athula Raja A tusker of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple, first owned by 'Anton Appo', the Basnayake Nilame of the Ratnapura Saman Devale. Tall even when young, he was described as…
ManikaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Temple elephant · Bellanwila · 6 October 2025 Manika An elephant of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya near Colombo who took part in the temple's annual perahera and its rituals for many years and became a well-loved part…
Madhu (Muthiyangana)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Temple tusker · Muthiyangana Vihara · September 2024 Madhu (Muthiyangana) A 28-year-old tusker of the Muthiyangana Rajamaha Vihara in Mahiyangana, donated in 1999 by former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. He took part in peraheras at the Sri Dalada…
Randeniye BandaraA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker Randeniye Bandara A well-loved tusker from Randeniya in Kegalle, also called the Warakagoda elephant, often seen at temple peraheras. On 28 July 2026, while being taken to the annual perahera…
TikiriA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial elephant (female) · September 2019 Tikiri A 70-year-old female elephant whose emaciated appearance in the 2019 Kandy Esala Perahera drew worldwide attention when photos spread online. The Maligawa said she took part to fulfil…
Millangoda RajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · about 1938 – 2011 Millangoda Raja A privately owned tusker of the Millangoda family of Molagoda, Kegalle, captured as a young elephant in 1945 in the Puttalam district. He was famous for tusks of…
Millangoda Podi Raja (Jayanthi)A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · 29 June 2020 Millangoda Podi Raja (Jayanthi) A tusker owned by S.R.S. Millangoda, who bought him at about four years old at a public auction at the Dehiwala Zoo in 1956; his official name, Jayanthi,…
Heiyantuduwa RajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · about 1924 – 6 November 2002 Heiyantuduwa Raja A tusker captured in the Hambantota district and bought at auction in 1945 by William Gunasekara of Heiyantuduwa, Biyagama; he was later owned by Henry Gunasekara of Kandy.…
JanarajaA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Ceremonial elephant · Dalada Maligawa · Dehiwala Zoo – Janaraja An elephant born at the Dehiwala Zoo and presented to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President J.R. Jayewardene in 1985. In 2017 he was described as the most…
GemunuA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala · c. 1991 – Gemunu Yala's best-known wild bull, named after King Dutugemunu and usually seen in Block 1 and along the Sithulpawwa road. He became famous — and controversial — for walking…
NandimithraA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Nandimithra A wild tusker that ranges between Yala and the forests of Sithulpawwa. In January 2017 Yala rangers had to tranquillise and free him after his trunk became trapped…
SandoA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Sando A Yala tusker who, with Parakum, fought Gemunu near the Menik Ganga in February 2018, breaking one of Gemunu's tusks. He became well known to safari visitors afterwards.
ParakumA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala Parakum A lone Yala tusker who joined Sando in the February 2018 fight that cost Gemunu his first tusk.
TilakA photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal
Wild tusker · Yala (deceased) Tilak Remembered as the 'gentle giant' of Yala: a senior tusker of about 55 years, thought to be the largest and oldest in the park, who was calm around…

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