Wild elephant electrocuted in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district

A wild elephant was electrocuted on Friday in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district after reportedly contacting a low-hanging high-tension wire. The tusker was part of a herd of three in the Mukundpur range, about four kilometres from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), a region with recent elephant deaths.

The elephant raised its trunk while passing beneath the wire at Machwatola village, resulting in instant death. "The tusker was likely part of a herd of three elephants that wandered into the area from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve," said Yashpal Mehra, Sub Divisional Officer of Forest, Maihar. The other two elephants returned to the jungle after the incident.

Forest officials monitored the herd's movement and received information about the electrocution early in the morning. "We believe the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m., and we were informed at 6:30 a.m.," added Mehra.

Veterinarians from the Panna Tiger Reserve were dispatched to conduct an autopsy. Preliminary findings indicated burn injuries on the elephant’s trunk, confirming electrocution as the cause of death.

This is the 12th elephant casualty in Madhya Pradesh since late October. Previous deaths included 10 elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve due to suspected poisoning from millet crop and another calf death from illness.

Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has called for urgent intervention, writing to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to address systemic negligence and prevent future casualties. Dubey highlighted issues with low-hanging power lines and inadequate monitoring of elephant herds, despite existing guidelines to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.

The incident highlights the urgent need for better coordination between the forest and electricity departments to safeguard regional wildlife.

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