A seven-year-old wild elephant was found dead near the Nampathar Reserved Forest in Assam’s Boko on Sunday, with preliminary findings suggesting that the animal may have died from electrocution.
The carcass was discovered about 100 metres from the Nampathar road under the Bandapara Forest Office, prompting officials and forest personnel to rush to the site and begin an investigation.
Forest officials said initial observations indicated that the elephant’s death did not appear to be natural. However, they added that the exact cause would be confirmed only after a post-mortem examination.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers faced by wild elephants in forest-fringe areas, particularly the threat of electrocution and other human-induced hazards.
Assam has one of the country’s largest wild elephant populations. According to the latest All-India Synchronous Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) DNA-based census, the state has an estimated 4,159 wild elephants, the second-highest population in India after Karnataka. A separate enumeration by the Assam Forest Department recorded 5,828 elephants, indicating a stable population.
Despite the encouraging population figures, human-elephant conflict remains a major concern in the state. Official data tabled in the Assam Assembly shows that at least 1,147 people and 246 elephants have died in conflict-related incidents across Assam over the past decade.
The Forest Department is awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the precise cause of the elephant’s death and decide whether further legal action is required.
