Forest officials discovered the carcasses of three wild elephants in Manas National Park near the India-Bhutan border, marking another tragic incident in Assam’s ongoing elephant mortality crisis. The discovery was made on Friday in the Palengshi Beat area under the Panbari range in the western part of the park, officials confirmed on Saturday.
In response to these deaths, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro has issued a forceful directive to forest officials to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the killings. The incident has renewed concerns about wildlife protection in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
The deaths come amid alarming statistics about elephant mortality in Assam. According to information obtained through an RTI application from the Assam Forest Department, the state recorded 281 elephant deaths across 22 wildlife divisions between 2019 and 2024.
For 2024 alone, authorities have documented 41 elephant deaths, highlighting the escalating nature of the crisis. Wildlife conservationists point to several key factors driving elephant mortality in the region, including human-elephant conflict, progressive habitat loss, electrocution, poaching, and other unnatural causes.
Manas National Park, which spans approximately 950 square kilometers, is known for its rich biodiversity and serves as a critical habitat for the Asian elephant population. The park forms part of the larger transboundary conservation landscape that extends into Bhutan.