In Sri Lanka, the dry zone harbours the majority of the country’s 4,500 elephant population. Thus a number of protected areas have been established to promote in-situ conservation.

Minneriya National Park (NP) is one such protected area, possessing the world’s large st known meeting place of Asian Elephants. On average, herds of up to 350 elephants are found in and around the park.

Open dumping of solid wastes in these protected areas can be life-threatening to the elephants, which are attracted to the food waste inside plastic and polythene bags and food wrappers. The consumption of such plastics can cause severe illness, with at least 3-4 elephants dying each year from polythene ingestion in the Ampara district alone.