Nearly 20 lives were lost and 15 people sustained injuries during a 10-day rampage by a large bull elephant across several towns in eastern India. Local residents were left climbing trees and sleeping on rooftops to avoid the animal.
The trouble began on New Year’s Day when a single-tusked male elephant first struck in Bandijari village, resulting in the death of a 35-year-old man. Just days later, the elephant killed five members of the same family in a nearby town, followed by the deaths of five more individuals, including a couple and their two children, in Bavaria.
Forest officials have noted the creature’s ability to travel mostly at night and cover impressive distances of up to 45 kilometers a day, complicating efforts to subdue it. Attempts to tranquilize the animal have repeatedly failed.
The elephant is believed to be in a state known as “must,” which is driven by high testosterone levels and can lead to increased aggression and unpredictable behavior. During this period, bulls often roam extensively and may attack without warning.
In the most affected villages, fear took hold after dark. Residents turned to sleeping outdoors, fearful of the sounds of the elephant moving through the area, breaking walls, and producing unsettling footsteps near their homes.
Over 300 forestry and wildlife officials are involved in a substantial operation that uses tracking teams, sedation squads, and drones. However, the elephant continues to elude capture, moving through jungles and small villages under the cover of darkness.
Despite repeated attempts to tranquilize the elephant using dart guns, animal control teams have faced setbacks. The increasing agitation of the animal forced them to temporarily halt operations, primarily due to concerns over safety as crowds gathered nearby.
This ongoing situation is a grim reminder that as urban development progresses, elephants are pushed further into human habitats, leading to a rise in dangerous encounters. Government statistics reveal that around 500 people die each year due to elephant encounters in India, while from 2020 to 2024, human-related causes have resulted in 2,011 elephant deaths, showing a 37% increase compared to prior years.
