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Assam's Elephant Corridor Plagued by Deadly Electrocution Incidents
17 Nov
Summary
- 14 elephant deaths in Assam's Udalguri district in the past year
- 10 deaths caused by electrocution from illegal wires set up by locals
- Widespread encroachment and shrinking habitats exacerbating human-elephant conflict
As of November 17, 2025, a concerning pattern of elephant deaths has emerged in Assam's Udalguri district, a vital transboundary corridor along the Bhutan border. Over the past year, at least 14 wild elephants have died in the area, with 10 of those fatalities caused by electrocution.
In the last 20 days alone, four more elephants have perished - three from electrocution and one believed to have been poisoned. Forest officials attribute most of the recent deaths to locals using high-voltage electric wires, often set up at night, to prevent elephants from entering their paddy fields. Despite efforts to check these illegal fences, the wires are typically removed early in the morning, evading detection.
