A ONCE-peaceful herd of about 150 elephants in southern Sri Lanka has turned violent, destroying property and killing humans in a last ditch attempt to save its habitat, writes Mallika Wanigasundara in a Panos report.

The pachyderms feel threatened by the Pelwatte Sugar Co -- an ill-conceived project that encroached upon the habitats of the elephants and restricted their freedom of movement. Nongovernmental organisations have suggested Handapangala, where the elephants are pocketed, be declared a protected area so that the animals have greater freedom of movement.