A rogue elephant in eastern India's Jharkhand state has killed 17 people in a series of brutal attacks that began on New Year's Day, sparking fear and a desperate search for the animal.
The young male elephant has carried out at least 12 separate attacks in the West Singhbhum district, with the violence peaking on January 6 when seven people—including a mother, father, and their two children—were killed in the villages of Babadia and Sialjoda. In another horrific incident, 40-year-old Prakash Das was decapitated.
Forest officials and local agencies have been unable to locate the elephant despite extensive ground searches. Aditya Narayan, a divisional forest officer, told The Times of India that teams are "camping in the fields" but have not yet spotted the animal, which typically attacks under cover of darkness.
Authorities have advised villagers to avoid elephants and contact forest officers immediately if they encounter one. Once located, officials plan to tranquilize and relocate the animal.
India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notes that such human-elephant conflicts are increasing nationwide, driven by habitat loss and human encroachment into wildlife areas. The current rampage underscores the deadly consequences of these escalating encounters.
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