In the plains of Ampara, Sri Lanka, a lone elephant stands at the edge of a landfill, its massive frame dwarfed by piles of plastic and rotting waste. The scene, captured by Sri Lankan photographer Lakshitha Karunarathna, has received major acclaim at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) awards, which were organised by the Natural History Museum, London.
The photograph, titled Toxic Tip, was selected as one of only 100 award-winning images from a record-breaking 60,636 submissions spanning more than 120 countries. It marks Karunarathna’s second success at the WPY competition, making him the first Sri Lankan photographer to be awarded multiple times in the event’s 61-year history.
Karunarathna has spent years documenting the fragile coexistence between humans and the island’s roughly 7,500 wild elephants, a relationship increasingly marked by conflict. His image shows an elephant foraging among waste, a disheartening scene that observes how poorly managed rubbish sites have become feeding grounds for wildlife. Elephants drawn to these dumps ingest plastic, polythene, and other toxic material, leading to slow, painful deaths.
Speaking after the announcement, Karunarathna described the recognition as both an honour and a responsibility. He noted that being placed in the top 0.16% of entries gave his work “a stage far beyond borders”, shedding light on the urgent issue of human-elephant conflict and waste management in Sri Lanka.
Scientific studies confirm that elephants consuming plastic suffer from severe digestive blockages and poisoning, drastically reducing their lifespans. The problem compounds Sri Lanka’s existing crisis: the island records one of the highest rates of human-elephant conflict in Asia. Every year, approximately 400 elephants and 100 people die of challenges linked to shrinking habitats, agricultural expansion, deforestation, and unplanned development.
Waste dumps situated near elephant corridors have become a particularly dangerous flashpoint. Karunarathna’s three-year documentation in Ampara has revealed how these sites alter elephant behaviour, drawing them away from forests and into human settlements, heightening tensions and risks on both sides.
“This award is not just for me,” Karunarathna said in a statement. “It is a reminder of the urgent need to address how our waste and lifestyles affect wildlife. As Sri Lankans, elephants are part of our cultural identity, and protecting them is protecting our heritage.”
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which began in 1965, is often referred to as the “Oscars of Wildlife Photography”. The annual event celebrates powerful images that reveal the beauty of the natural world and highlight the threats it faces. This year’s ceremony will take place on 13 October 2025 at the Natural History Museum, where the winning images will go on public display before touring globally.
The recognition represents more than personal achievement for Karunarathna. His work has been featured across international media platforms, bringing attention to the plight of Sri Lanka’s elephants. His photograph Toxic Tip was one of just 15 images that were chosen for the official media release, shared by major outlets worldwide.
The picture itself is unflinching. A wild elephant framed against mounds of human waste, its foraging a quiet yet devastating reminder of the conflicts that arise between development and conservation. Despite progress being made in elephant conservation in the country, poor waste management and encroachment continue to compromise these initiatives.
The increasing number of elephants venturing into rubbish dumps has become a significant issue; conservationists have consistently urged officials to either relocate these sites or ensure they are properly secured. Nevertheless, the problem continues, with waste sites being found in the vicinity of protected regions.
Karunarathna’s photograph transcends numbers and policy discussions, capturing the essence of animal conservation in one image. While Sri Lanka celebrates his achievement, Karunarathna, through his photography, aims to inspire renewed attention to the issue that results in solid actions.
