The recent death of an iconic male elephant in Sri Lanka has raised concerns over ongoing contact between humans and the giant animals, whose habitats have been greatly reduced.

The elephant known as "Kavantissa" had been considered to be the tallest living male elephant in the Sri Lanka. Thought to be around 45 years old and measuring roughly 3.3 meters tall (11 feet), he roamed Sri Lanka's northwest near the village of Galgamuwa, and was widely admired for his majestic stature.

In late September, villagers noticed the 5.5 ton-tusker (5,500 kg) was limping, and a closer look reveled a gunshot wound on his right leg.…