Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Mourning Elephant Captured After 48-Hour Vigil at Companion's Death Site
An elephant named Bharat lost its longtime companion after the companion touched a live wire.
Bharat stayed near the place where the companion died.
It even stayed beside the body overnight and tried to wake it.
Forest officials removed the body for an examination.
Bharat returned and would not leave the area.
Officials used four trained elephants to help capture it safely.
The rescue took about 48 hours.
Bharat was then taken to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Bharat, a 14-year-old tusker, stayed near its companion’s death site for about 48 hours.
The companion died on Saturday after stepping on a live electrical wire in Rewa district.
Forest officials said Bharat spent the night beside the body and tried to wake it.
Four elephants from Bandhavgarh and Sanjay tiger reserves helped with the rescue operation.
Bharat was captured on Tuesday and taken to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
- Who
- Bharat, a 14-year-old tusker, and forest officials involved in the rescue.
- What
- Bharat was captured after refusing to leave the site where its companion died.
- When
- The companion died on Saturday, and Bharat was captured on Tuesday after a 48-hour rescue operation.
- Where
- Near Bartollha under Malakpur in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district; Bharat was taken to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
- Why
- Bharat remained at the site after its companion died from electrocution and refused to move away.
- Elephant
- Bharat, a 14-year-old tusker fitted with a radio collar.
- Companion’s death
- The companion died after stepping on a live wire.
- Vigil
- Bharat stayed at the death site for about 48 hours.
- Rescue team
- Four elephants, two each from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Sanjay Tiger Reserve, assisted officials.
- Rescue duration
- The operation lasted 48 hours.
- Outcome
- Bharat was captured on Tuesday and taken to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
- Companionship
- The two elephants had moved together in the forests for seven months.