Assam's Elephant Corridor Plagued by Deadly Electrocution Incidents

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.

The situation is exacerbated by widespread encroachment and shrinking habitats in the region, leading to an intensifying human-elephant conflict. Authorities warn that the pattern of fatalities is a sign of a deepening crisis, with the department facing acute shortages of personnel, vehicles, and resources to effectively respond and prevent such incidents.

While eviction drives in other districts have helped reduce conflict, officials in Udalguri say the challenge is compounded by the scale of encroachment. They have requested additional staff, vehicles, and firearms, along with a major eviction drive to free occupied forest areas and restore the natural corridors for elephant movement.