Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Wild tusker electrocuted by illegal fence in Alipurduar paddy field
A big wild elephant named a tusker was found dead in a farmer's paddy field one morning.
The elephant probably touched a fence that had electricity running through it.
A villager had put up that fence without permission to keep elephants away from his crops.
Shocking an elephant is against the law, but some people still do it.
This is the third elephant that has died this way in the area in just two months.
Forest officers came to look at what happened and found wires and bamboo poles from the fence.
They also saw a burn mark near the elephant's ear, which can happen from electricity.
The elephant was one of a herd of six that came into the village from the Khayerbari forest at night.
The officers moved the elephant's body to the forest to do a check-up and find out exactly what caused its death.
They are sad because these deaths keep happening even though people are fined and arrested for making these fences.
A middle-aged wild tusker was found dead in a paddy field in Talukertari village, Falakata block, Alipurduar district, on Thursday morning.
Forest officials suspect the elephant was electrocuted after coming into contact with an illegally energised fence erected by a villager to protect crops.
This is the third elephant death reported in the district in the last two months.
Officials recovered bamboo poles and electric wires believed to have been used for the illegal fence and noticed a burn mark near the elephant's ear.
The carcass was taken to Khayerbari forest for post-mortem examination, and officials are awaiting the report to confirm the exact cause of death.
- Who
- A middle-aged wild tusker, along with forest officials led by assistant wildlife warden Nabikant Jha of Jaldapara National Park.
- What
- The elephant was reportedly electrocuted by an illegally energised fence erected by a villager to protect crops.
- When
- The elephant was found dead on Thursday morning; a herd of six elephants had entered the village on Wednesday night.
- Where
- A paddy field in Talukertari village, Falakata block, Alipurduar district; the carcass was taken to Khayerbari forest for post-mortem.
- Why
- A villager had installed an illegal electrified fence to protect crops from elephant raids, and the fence is suspected to have electrocuted the elephant.
Wildlife Conservation
Farmers' Crop Protection
Illegal electric fencing
Wildlife Conservation
Forest officials view illegal electrified fences as a lethal threat to elephants and continue imposing fines, making arrests, and taking legal action against offenders.
Farmers' Crop Protection
Villagers install electrified fences to protect their crops from raids by wild elephants, which cause serious damage to their fields.
- Location
- Talukertari village, Falakata block, Alipurduar district
- Victim
- Middle-aged wild tusker
- Suspected Cause
- Electrocution by illegally energised fence
- Incident Frequency
- Third elephant death in the district in the last two months
- Evidence Recovered
- Bamboo poles, electric wires, and a burn mark near the elephant's ear
- What Next
- Post-mortem examination at Khayerbari forest; report awaited
- Investigating Official
- Nabikant Jha, assistant wildlife warden, Jaldapara National Park
- Herd Size
- Six wild elephants entered from south Khayerbari forest on Wednesday night