A male elephant has embarked on a deadly rampage in eastern India, being branded a 'serial killer' after taking 17 lives across 12 separate attacks in the first days of 2026.
A Deadly Start to the New Year
The killing spree began on New Year's Day in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The elephant, identified by officials as a young bull, has since terrorised local communities, with the violence peaking on 6 January when seven people were killed in the villages of Babadia and Sialjoda.
Among the victims were four members of the same family—a mother, father, and their two young children—who died in a single, devastating assault. In another horrific incident, the elephant decapitated 40-year-old villager Prakash Das. A woman also later succumbed to her injuries in a local hospital.
Fruitless Search and Mounting Fear
Despite a major operation involving multiple government and independent teams, wildlife personnel have so far failed to locate the rogue animal. Divisional Forest Officer Aditya Narayan confirmed to the Times of India that teams are "camping in the fields" but efforts to trace the elephant have been unsuccessful.
The official noted the elephant primarily strikes under the cover of darkness after entering human settlements. The relentless attacks have left villagers terrified, with many now afraid to leave their homes.
The Growing Crisis of Human-Elephant Conflict
This tragic series of events highlights the escalating problem of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in India. According to the country's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, such confrontations are becoming more frequent.
The root cause is largely attributed to habitat loss and human development, which forces elephants into closer contact with villages and farms in search of food and space. Authorities have issued public service announcements advising residents on how to behave during an encounter, urging them to avoid the animals and contact forest officers immediately.
For now, the plan, once the elusive bull is found, is to tranquilise and relocate it to a remote area away from human populations. However, with the animal still at large, the community remains in a state of fear, awaiting an end to the deadly rampage.
