Forest officials in India are currently searching for an elephant responsible for the deaths of 22 people in Jharkhand since the beginning of January.
The single-tusked elephant has been active in forests and villages within the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Attacks have primarily occurred at night as the elephant entered small villages.
Victims include a 35-year-old man on January 1, a couple and their two young children, and a forest department official. The region, particularly Chaibasa district where the elephant was last observed, is on high alert, with residents advised to avoid forest areas and nighttime outings.
Aditya Narayan, divisional forest officer of Chaibasa district, stated that a young male elephant, believed to be separated from its herd, has exhibited aggressive behavior. Three attempts to tranquilize the elephant have been unsuccessful. Narayan confirmed that efforts to tranquilize the animal will continue, and villagers have been instructed to remain vigilant.
The elephant reportedly covers approximately 30 kilometers daily. Over 100 forest department personnel are involved in the search operation, which has not yet located the animal. Wildlife specialists from three additional states have joined the effort. Officials noted that the elephant's unpredictable movements through the forests complicate monitoring.
These incidents occur amidst an increase in human-elephant conflict in India. This rise is attributed to factors such as deforestation, scarcity of food and water, and increased residential encroachment into former elephant corridors. Approximately 10% of these corridors, which are crucial migration routes for elephants, are no longer accessible. Elephants also face high mortality rates from incidents including electrocution, train collisions, and retaliatory poisonings. Over the last five years, more than 2,800 people in India have died from encounters with elephants.
In some villages in states like Andhra Pradesh, AI-powered early warning systems have been implemented to detect elephant intrusions and enhance villager safety.