Additional Coverage:
Rogue Elephant Terrorizes Indian Villages, Leaves 20 Dead
Indian authorities are in a frantic search for a wild elephant, identifiable by its single tusk, that is believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least 20 people this month. The attacks have occurred in one of Asia’s largest Sal forests, located in northeastern India.
The deadly encounters have primarily taken place under the cover of night, with the suspected elephant reportedly entering small villages in the Kolhan and Chaibasa forest areas of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. Victims have been tragically trampled, with the first recorded death on January 1st involving a 35-year-old man in Bandijhari village. Subsequent fatalities include a family of four, two of whom were young children, and even a forest department official.
Officials believe the elephant is a young male that may have become unusually aggressive after being separated from its herd. Aditya Narayan, a forest officer for the Chaibasa district, confirmed that attempts to tranquilize the animal have so far been unsuccessful despite three previous efforts.
“Our team is on high alert, and our efforts to tranquilize it will be resumed,” Narayan stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “Villages have been strictly advised not to go into the forest and to remain vigilant.”
More than 100 forest personnel are currently participating in the extensive search operation across the dense forested areas. The elephant’s ability to cover up to 20 miles per night makes tracking its movements particularly challenging. Teams are resorting to using drums to alert residents of potential danger.
While elephant rampages resulting in multiple deaths have occurred in the past, forest officer Kuldeep Meena described the current situation as “unprecedented.” “It’s the first time such a pattern of fatalities has been linked to a single male elephant in the region,” Meena explained.
Authorities aim to capture the elephant and safely return it to the wild. Families of the victims will be offered financial compensation. In the meantime, locals have been urged to avoid forest areas and remain indoors after dark as the hunt for the rogue elephant continues.