Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Assam's Human-Elephant Conflict: 71 Humans, 41 Elephants Dead in 2023
In Assam, India, 71 people and 41 elephants have died this year due to conflicts over land and resources.
Conservationists are worried and want the government to do more to protect both people and elephants.
Assam records 71 human and 41 elephant deaths due to conflict in 2023
Elephant deaths from electrocution increased, with 11 cases in October-November
Conflict likely to intensify with paddy ripening and livelihoods at risk
Government urged to intervene and coordinate multiple departments
Ex gratia compensation for human deaths and crop damage proposed to be handled by ASDMA
- Who
- People and elephants in Assam, India
- What
- Have been dying in conflicts over land and resources
- When
- So far in 2023, with a spike in October and November
- Where
- Assam, India
- Why
- Due to shrinking habitats, environmental degradation, climate change, and human-elephant conflict
Conservationists
Government
Response to conflict
Conservationists
Urge immediate intervention and coordination among departments
Government
Has declared conflict a 'State Disaster' but response criticized as insufficient
Compensation for losses
Conservationists
Propose ASDMA handle ex gratia payments for human deaths and crop damage
Government
Currently forest department handles compensation, causing administrative burden
- Total human deaths (2000-2023)
- 1,468
- Total human injuries (2000-2023)
- 337
- Total elephant deaths (2000-2023)
- 626
- Elephant deaths from electrocution (Oct-Nov 2023)
- 11
- Current status of human-elephant conflict in Assam
- Declared a 'State Disaster'
