Trapped Between Worlds

In Sri Lanka, the relentless march of human development has forced wild elephants into increasingly perilous territories. Once free to roam vast, untouched landscapes, these majestic creatures now navigate a maze of electric fences, busy railways, and crowded roads as their natural habitats vanish. 

This portfolio captures the heartbreaking journey of elephants caught between survival and a world not built for them. Each image not only documents the struggle for life but also calls for urgent action to protect both the giants and the people who share their land.

A herd of wild elephants gathers at a lake, seeking relief from the relentless heat. As water sources dwindle, such moments are becoming rarer.

With their natural habitats disappearing, elephants embark on long, uncertain migrations, searching for food and water in unfamiliar landscapes.

An elephant hesitates before an active electric fence. Such barriers, meant to protect villages, often lead to fatal encounters when desperate elephants attempt to break through.

Elephants navigate railway tracks—one of the many human-made obstacles they now face. These tracks, designed for people, have become deadly pathways for wildlife.

In a rare sight, a herd drinks from a man-made tube well after crossing a railway line. The presence of the tracks in the background is a stark reminder of how human development reshapes their world.

Not all elephants make it safely across. Here, the devastating consequences of train collisions are evident as yet another elephant lies lifeless along the tracks.

A mother and her calf lie motionless, victims of a railway accident. These losses not only impact individual elephants but also fracture tightly bonded herds.A pair of elephants lingers on a public road, waiting—perhaps hoping—for food. Disoriented and hungry, they rely on human settlements to survive.A tusker stretches its trunk towards a moving vehicle, scavenging for food. Such encounters can turn dangerous, increasing the risk of accidents and escalating conflicts.Some elephants, having lost their original homes, remain near human settlements, unable to return to the forests. Their presence fuels ongoing tensions, worsening the human-elephant conflict.