Electrocution of pregnant elephant triggers fatal wild elephant attack in Bandarban

Our Correspondent,Bandarban

A pregnant wild elephant was fatally electrocuted late Monday night in the Kumari Para area under Fasiakhali Union of Bandarban’s Lama Upazila.

The incident occurred when the elephant came into contact with an electric fence erected by local farmers to protect their crops from wild animals.

The fence, intended to prevent elephant incursions into agricultural fields, tragically claimed the life of the elephant, believed to be around 30 years old.

Fasiakhali Union Parishad member Mohammad Ali Akbar confirmed the incident, noting that the electric wires were set up by local farmers as a deterrent to safeguard their rice crops from the growing threat of wild elephant raids.

However, the fatal electrocution of the pregnant elephant appears to have sparked a vengeful response from the remaining wild elephants in the area.

In a grim turn of events, later that same night, 28-year-old farmer Faridul Alam was killed in a brutal wild elephant attack while protecting his crops.

Mostafizur Rahman, an official with the Lama Forest Department, stated that the elephants’ aggression was likely triggered by the death of one of their own.

.The attack, which occurred in the same vicinity, underscores the escalating tension between local communities and wildlife in the region.

This tragic series of events highlights the increasing frequency of human-elephant conflicts in Bangladesh, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where the encroachment of human settlements into elephant habitats is exacerbating the risk of violent encounters.

As human activities disrupt traditional elephant migratory routes, these conflicts are becoming more common and increasingly deadly.

Recent data reveals a concerning rise in such incidents.

Between 2018 and 2023, more than 79 elephants were killed in Bangladesh, primarily due to human-wildlife conflict, with electrocution being one of the leading causes.

According to the Bangladesh Forest Department, as of 2016, there were only 268 resident elephants left in Bangladesh, all residing in the country’s southeastern forests.

The year 2021 saw the highest toll, with 34 elephants tragically killed, underscoring the intensifying clash between human expansion and wildlife conservation.

In contrast, over 14 human fatalities were reported during the same period as a result of wild elephant attacks, particularly in the districts of Bandarban and Chattogram.

The alarming increase in human-elephant conflict necessitates immediate and comprehensive action.

Experts emphasize the need for immediate action, including the restoration of elephant habitats, the deployment of non-lethal deterrents, and the fostering of community-driven wildlife management practices to mitigate conflicts and ensure the survival of both elephants and local communities.

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