RANCHI– Once known as a safe haven for wild elephants, Jharkhand’s Kolhan division is now witnessing a troubling trend: four elephant deaths reported in just the past 35 days, sparking serious concerns about wildlife safety and escalating human-animal conflict in the region.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday in the Serengasia Valley of West Singhbhum district, where a wild elephant was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Locals suspect electrocution as the cause.
“We received information about an elephant carcass lying in the valley. Our medical team rushed to the spot, and a post-mortem is underway. The exact cause of death will be known only after the report comes in,” said Forest Division Officer Aditya Narayan.
Just days earlier, on July 5, a six-year-old elephant named ‘Gadru’ by locals died in the Saranda forest. The animal had been seriously injured in an IED blast allegedly planted by Maoists on June 24. Despite rescue efforts and assistance from Gujarat-based wildlife NGO Vantara, the elephant died within hours of receiving treatment.
Another elephant death occurred on June 24 in Heaven village, located within the Chandil forest range of Seraikela-Kharsawan district. A post-mortem confirmed that the female elephant had been electrocuted. Investigations revealed a local farmer had illegally electrified his field to protect his crops. Authorities have filed an FIR against the accused, and a manhunt is underway.
Earlier on June 5, an elephant was found dead in a field near Ambeda, under the same forest division. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The recent fatalities are part of a broader pattern. Over the last three years, more than 15 elephants have died in the Kolhan division due to various causes. In one of the deadliest incidents, five elephants were electrocuted in Beniasai village under the Ghatsila subdivision of East Singhbhum in November 2023. Another female elephant was found dead in a field near Bhadua village in Baharagora block in July 2024.
In a written response submitted in Parliament this month, the Union Environment Ministry disclosed that 528 elephants in India have died from unnatural causes over the past five years. Of those, 30 occurred in Jharkhand due to electrocution alone. (Source: IANS)
