Lakshitha Karunarathna
Camouflaged in the Garbage Dump
Elephant in the middle of a sea of waste, Sri Lanka, 2023
Category - Humanity versus Nature
In this unsettling aerial view, an elephant navigates a sea of waste in the eastern province of Sri Lanka, almost blending into the chaotic landscape of discarded plastic and refuse. This image is a grim testament to the severe environmental issues Sri Lanka faces. Increasingly, elephants are drawn to open garbage dumps in search of food, consuming dangerous materials that harm their health. These dumps, a result of unchecked waste disposal practices, not only endanger wildlife but also intensify the longstanding conflict between humans and elephants. With habitats shrinking and natural food sources dwindling, elephants are pushed closer to human settlements, resulting in tragic encounters. This scene is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions and wildlife-friendly practices to preserve Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and mitigate the risks faced by these majestic animals.
28 mm f/2.8 Lens - 1/400 sec at f/4 ISO 100