21/08/2026
What happened to the last elephant of Horton Plains? An insightful article by G. Anderson for the 1944 ‘Loris’ magazine (Vol.3, No.5) reveals important details –
In the article, Anderson says that during the mid-19th century (around 1880s) there was a great international demand for Sri Lankan Elephants. Thus, they were captured and exported for financial gain. Prior to that, they were mostly exported to India for pageants and for Maharajahs. Anderson claimed that the decrease of elephants increased further due to the clearing of up-country forests from 1870 to 1880. He confirms that “a very large number were shot in the early 80s” [1880s].
Anderson cites a record by Thomas Farr (the owner of the former ‘Farr Inn’ at Horton Plains), who stated in 1904 that only 20 elephants were left in the highlands. However, Anderson says that this number is exaggerated – he says the “largest number seen in the open was a herd of 6 in 1906.” Now here’s the most fascinating part –
Anderson claims that some elephants from the herd came to an “untimely end,” and “one fell over a precipice near Ohiya,”; also, “one was shot by some unknown person near Pattipola.” This is proof that in the early 1900s, elephants still inhabited Horton Plains, albeit rare.
Sadly, the very ‘last elephant’ of Horton Plains was reportedly “blind and aged, it was last seen in 1936 at the extreme eastern end of Horton Plains.” A few months later, a rib bone was found near the spot where it was seen. Thus, the last elephant of Horton Plains vanished.
Although Anderson doubted whether any elephants existed in the highlands, a small herd of about 10 to 20 elephants still survive in the Peak Wilderness (Sri Pada) area today.
(Source - "Then & Now" by G. Anderson, 'Loris' 1944, Vol.3, No.5)
