Elephant News - Latest Updates & Headlines
Elephants take part in penalty shootout competition at annual mammoth festival in Nepal
Sauraha, December 27: Elephants in Nepal on Friday took part in a penalty shootout competition during the annual elephant festival of the Himalayan nation in the tourist town of Sauraha.
NFR's tech-driven measures save over 160 elephants, ensure safer train operations
Guwahati, Dec 25: The Northeast Frontier Railway has been undertaking a series of proactive, technology-driven initiatives to prevent wild elephant dashing incidents and ensure safe, uninterrupted train operations across its network, successfully protecting more than 160 wild elephants during 2025 alone.
Jharkhand: 18 local trains cancelled, road traffic disrupted due to elephant movement
Ranchi, Dec 25: Rail and road traffic across parts of Jharkhand continue to be severely affected due to frequent movement of wild elephants.
Indonesia engages Vantara's expertise to curb elephant deaths from EEHV
Jamnagar, December 24: Vantara, a global wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani and based in Jamnagar, is providing technical expertise to support Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry in its efforts to curb deaths among Sumatran elephants caused by Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus.
Indian Railways strengthens AI-based system to protect wildlife on railway tracks
New Delhi, December 23: In a groundbreaking move, Indian Railways has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to safeguard wildlife, especially elephants, lions and tigers, on railway tracks. The cutting-edge technology uses Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) to detect animal presence, alerting loco pilots and control rooms 0.5 kms in advance - a potential lifesaver.
Union Environment Minister chairs NTCA and Project Elephant meetings at Sundarbans; reviews national strategies for Tiger and Elephant conservation
New Delhi, December 21: The 28th Meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the 22nd Steering Committee Meeting of Project Elephant were held on Sunday at the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.
Odisha: Veterinary team treats injured elephant in Bhubaneswar's Chandaka Reserve Forest
Bhubaneswar (Odisha), December 21: A veterinary team from Nandankanan Zoological Park and the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) spotted an elephant with slow movement in the Chandaka Reserve Forest in Bhubaneswar and administered treatment.
Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav reviews human-elephant conflict mitigation
New Delhi, Dec 21: Union Environment and Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday led a review of the status of human-elephant conflict across the country, focussing on findings from ongoing studies on conflict drivers and mitigation measures, an official said.
Train services disrupted in Assam after Rajdhani Express hits and kills seven elephants
Guwahati, Dec 20: Train movement was affected in Assam on Saturday due to the derailment of Sairang (Mizoram)-New Delhi Rajdhani Express after killing seven elephants and injuring a calf in Hojai district, officials said.
Seven elephants killed, calf injured after being hit by Rajdhani Express in Assam; several coaches derail
New Delhi, Dec 20: At least seven elephants were killed and one calf injured after a herd collided with the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam's Hojai on Saturday morning, leading to the disruption of rail services.
TN: Scientific panel set up for elephant translocation after recent deaths
Chennai, Dec 8: The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a high-level State expert committee to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the capture, translocation, release and post-release monitoring of wild elephants and other wildlife species.
Forest official conducting Tiger census trampled to death in Kerala
Palakkad, Dec 6: A day after a five-member forest patrol team was dramatically rescued from Pudur in Attappady, the region witnessed a tragedy on Saturday when a Forest Department officer was killed in a sudden wild elephant attack during a tiger census operation.
Indian Railways rolls out AI system to prevent elephant collision, tenders 981 RKms
New Delhi, Dec 5: Indian Railways has deployed an Artificial Intelligence‑enabled intrusion detection system to detect elephants on tracks across route kilometres (RKms) of the Northeast Frontier Railway and prevent collisions, the government said on Friday.
West Bengal: Train hits two elephants in Jalpaiguri, one dead, one injured
Jalpaiguri, November 30: Two elephants were struck by a train in the Khalaigram area of Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, at 4 AM on Sunday.
Vemal on shooting with an elephant for 'Mahasenha': I would feed jalebis to the elephant before every shot! (IANS Exclusive)
Chennai, Nov 30: Actor Vemal, who plays the lead in director Dhinesh Kalaiselvan's upcoming action thriller 'Mahasenha', has now disclosed how he fed jalebis to an elephant with which he had to act in a bid to befriend it.
Discipline and service define Scout and Guide movement: Mizoram CM Lalduhoma
Aizawl, Nov 28: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said that the Scout and Guide movement embodies values, discipline, self-reliance, service, leadership, and character-building, qualities that India needs in this era of rapid transformation.
'Rhino Goes to School' ignites conservation spirit among students living near Kaziranga
Guwahati, November 26: Leading biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, with support from the UK-based David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) organised two impactful editions of the "Rhino Goes to School" programme, aimed at nurturing awareness and responsibility for wildlife conservation among young learners.
Supreme Court dismisses plea challenging transfer of elephant to Vantara
New Delhi, November 19: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea that challenged the capture and translocation of a sub-adult elephant named Omkar to Vantara (Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust).
Human-elephant conflict escalates in Jharkhand; five people killed in a week, two elephants found dead
Ranchi, Nov 17: Human-elephant conflict is intensifying across Jharkhand, with five people killed in elephant attacks over the past week and two elephants found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Indian biosphere reserves testament to how culture, sustainable development can coexist
New Delhi, Nov 15: The biosphere reserves in India showcase how biodiversity, cultural richness, and sustainable development can coexist, underscoring the continuing journey to balance nature and people, according to a report.
Guneet Monga Kapoor recollects when chef Vikas Khanna flew to New York to support Oscar campaign
Mumbai, Nov 15: Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, whose film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film in 2023, is celebrating the birthday of celebrity chef Vikas Khanna.
NFR loco pilots' exemplary vigilance prevents wild elephant mishaps
Guwahati, Nov 10: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has once again demonstrated its commitment towards wildlife conservation and safe train operations in elephant-prone areas, officials said on Monday.
Steel wire fencing work begins in TN's Coimbatore to curb elephant intrusion
Chennai, Nov 5: After months of deliberation, work has finally begun on erecting a 10-foot-high steel wire fence along the forest boundary in the Coimbatore and Boluvampatti forest ranges to prevent wild elephant intrusion into nearby human settlements.
CITES highlights high standards at Vantara and strong Indian regulations
New Delhi, November 3: A recent report by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has highlighted the world-class standards of animal care and treatment at Vantara in Jamnagar.
'Jumbo jump': Madras HC lauds rise in TN elephant population
Chennai, Oct 29: Madras High Court's Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava on Wednesday expressed delight over the rise in Tamil Nadu’s wild elephant population, terming it "a significant growth" and a reflection of successful conservation efforts.
Tusker found dead in unmaintained elephant-proof trench near TN's Mettupalayam
Chennai, Oct 29: A wild tusker was found dead after reportedly falling into an unmaintained elephant-proof trench (EPT) along the Odanthurai forest boundary near Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district, raising renewed concerns about the safety and upkeep of such barriers in human-elephant conflict zones.
Coimbatore forest officials turn to AI, thermal cameras to tackle rising elephant raids in neighbourhood
Chennai, Oct 29: Wild elephants in the Coimbatore forest division have increasingly been straying into human settlements, leaving a trail of destruction across farmlands and claiming lives.
Two wild elephants die in TN's Coimbatore district
Coimbatore, Oct 23: In two separate incidents within a day, two wild elephants - a male tusker near Thondamuthur and a female elephant in the Pollachi range - died in Coimbatore district, officials from the Forest Department confirmed on Thursday.
Bengal: Three killed in elephant attacks in last 24 hours
Kolkata, Oct 23: Three persons, including one woman and a child, have been killed in two separate incidents of elephant attack in West Bengal during the last 24 hours.
Tamil Nadu: Elephant dies after getting caught in electric wire near Kuppepalyam
Coimbatore, October 23: A wild male elephant died after getting entangled in an electric wire near Kuppepalayam village, outside the forest area in Coimbatore district.
Seasonal solar fences installed in eastern Assam for human-elephant-conflict mitigation
Guwahati, October 19: In a continued effort to mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC) and safeguard rural livelihoods, premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department, has handed over seasonal solar fences to communities across three eastern Assam districts of Jorhat, Tinsukia and Sivasagar.
NFR installs intrusion detection system to protect elephants, boost train safety
Guwahati, Oct 18: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has undertaken a major initiative to ensure the safety of elephants and smooth train operations by implementing the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) across its network and jurisdiction, officials said on Saturday.
Haathi is indeed our saathi: Jairam Ramesh raises alarm over decline in elephant populations
New Delhi, October 16: Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday sounded an alarm over the declining elephant population in India, stressing that protecting and preserving an animal deeply embedded in the country's religious, cultural, and ecological fabric is a national responsibility.
Mongolians appreciate opportunity to train with us: MEA Secy (East) on defence cooperation
New Delhi, October 14: MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran on Tuesday discussed defence cooperation with Mongolia, stating that several initiatives are underway to strengthen ties in this domain.
Woman, granddaughter trampled to death by wild elephants in TN's Valparai
Chennai, Oct 13: In a heart-wrenching incident, a 55-year-old woman and her young granddaughter were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants that strayed into a workers’ settlement near Valparai in Coimbatore district during the early hours of Monday.
Tamil Nadu's wild elephant population rises to 3,170: Survey
Chennai, Oct 7: Tamil Nadu's wild elephant population has grown to 3,170, marking an increase of 107 from the previous estimate of 3,063, according to the Third Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation (2025) report released on Tuesday.
CM Stalin inaugurates TN's second Mahout village at Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Chennai, Oct 6: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday inaugurated the state's second dedicated village for mahouts at the historic Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi.
Elephant suffers grievous injury in Maoist IED blast in Jharkhand's Saranda forest
Chaibasa: , Oct 6 (IANS) A young wild elephant sustained critical injuries after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Jharkhand’s Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district, officials said on Monday.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurates multiple welfare, development projects
Chennai, October 6: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday inaugurated and flagged off several development initiatives in Chennai.
Assam: Elephant calf born in Kaziranga named Mayabini; Forest Minister says, 'symbol of new life'
Kaziranga, October 5: Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary announced that Kuwari, the elephant of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has given birth to a "healthy female calf". The newborn has been named "Mayabini" symbolising hope and harmony in the wild.