What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Udawalawe?

The main threats facing Udawalawe’s wildlife are habitat fragmentation, clashes between people and elephants near the boundary zones, and the fast rise of invasive plant species.

Invasive weeds, for example, Lantana camara, aggressively squeeze native grazing areas, which in turn lowers the available food for herbivores. Meanwhile, agricultural expansion and illegal poaching add steady pressure to the wider ecosystem. On a more hopeful side, responsible tourism directly counters these problems by supplying essential financial support, which helps the Department of Wildlife Conservation keep electric fences working and remove invasive vegetation.