Jharkhand declares 'emergency' after elephant attack kills 22
What's the story
The Jharkhand government has declared an "elephant emergency" after a wild elephant went on a killing spree in the West Singhbhum district. The lone bull went on a rampage starting early January, leaving behind a trail of destruction and panic. So far, 22 people have been killed. The forest department has deployed over 100 people to track and capture the animal, which is traveling approximately 30 kilometers per day.
Casualties and search efforts
Rampaging elephant's deadly trail
They attempted to tranquilize it three times but were unsuccessful, NDTV reported. Per AFP, the rampaging elephant has killed children, the elderly, and a professional elephant handler, or mahout. Fear has driven residents of over 20 villages to abandon their farms or barricade themselves indoors at night, village head Pratap Chachar said last week.
Habitat loss
Elephants and humans increasingly come into conflict
Because of rapidly expanding settlements and increased forest disturbance, like mining operations, the usually shy animals are coming into more contact with humans. Asian elephants now occupy only 15% of their original habitat. As elephant habitats dwindle, conflict between humans and wild elephants has increased, with 629 persons killed by elephants between 2023 and 2024, according to parliamentary figures. Rogue bulls are often responsible for these attacks, especially during "musth," a period of heightened sexual activity when testosterone levels soar.
Conservation challenges
India's wild elephant population and conservation efforts
India is home to most of the world's remaining wild Asian elephants, an endangered species. The Wildlife Institute of India estimates the country's wild elephant population at 22,446. However, habitat loss continues to threaten these iconic animals. A former forest official earlier speculated that the rogue bull may have calmed down and rejoined its herd after going into musth during its rampage through eastern India.