Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Elephant Attacks and Rescues in India
In India, a big angry elephant has been hurting and killing people in a place called West Singhbhum.
The elephant is missing, and people are scared.
In another place called Jalpaiguri, a baby elephant got lost and wandered into the town.
It took a long time for the forest department to catch and move the baby elephant back to the forest.
In a village called Balasundar, a group of 17 elephants came and ate some crops, but no one got hurt.
The forest department is trying to guide the elephants back to their home in the forest.
Experts say that elephants are acting this way because people are cutting down their homes in the forest.
A rogue bull elephant has killed 20 people, including 4 children, in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand.
In Jalpaiguri, a rescued calf elephant wandered into the town and was tranquilized and relocated after 8 hours.
A herd of 17 elephants, including several calves, entered Balasundar village in Cooch Behar district, damaging crops but causing no injuries.
Forest departments in both regions are actively tracking and managing the elephants to ensure safety.
Experts blame habitat fragmentation due to mining and urbanization for the increased human-elephant conflict.
- Who
- Rogue bull elephant, residents of West Singhbhum, Jharkhand; Forest department and police in Jalpaiguri; Herd of 17 elephants and residents of Balasundar village, Cooch Behar district
- What
- Series of deadly elephant attacks and rescues
- When
- Between January 5 and January 9, 2024 (West Singhbhum); Monday night to Tuesday morning (Jalpaiguri); Tuesday morning (Balasundar village)
- Where
- West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, India; Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India; Balasundar village, Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India
- Why
- Habitat fragmentation and human encroachment leading to increased human-elephant conflict; Rescue operations to safely relocate elephants
Conservationists
Local Residents
Habitat Protection
Conservationists
Conservationists advocate for stronger protection of elephant habitats to prevent human-elephant conflicts.
Local Residents
Local residents argue that habitat protection measures often do not adequately address immediate safety concerns.
- Location 1
- West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India
- Victims
- 20 people, including 4 children
- Last Attack
- January 9, 2024
- Elephant Status
- Missing, suspected to be in musth
- Elephant Population in Jharkhand
- 550–600
- Human Deaths in 18 Years
- 1,270
- Elephants Killed in 18 Years
- 150
- Primary Cause
- Habitat fragmentation due to mining and urbanization
- Location 2
- Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India
- Rescue Duration
- 8 hours
- Rescue Method
- Tranquilized and relocated
- Location 3
- Balasundar village, Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India
- Herd Size
- 17 elephants, including several calves
- Damage Reported
- Crop damage, no injuries
Sources
Inside the hunt for an elephant that has claimed 20 lives in Jharkhand
Jumbo throws town into chaos: Rescued calf tranquillised and lifted out of Jalpaiguri after 8 hours
Elephant herd near village sparks panic in Cooch Behar district's Balasundar village
