An elephant has caused a series of deadly incidents, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals, with four casualties from the same family, during multiple attacks in a region of Jharkhand, India. The elephant, suspected to be a young male, began its aggressive behavior on New Year’s Day and continued its spree through the early days of 2026, claiming the lives of nearly 20 people, including a young boy.
Among the victims were a husband, wife, and their two children, who were reportedly killed in a single attack, along with a man gruesomely decapitated by the elephant. The creature also fatally injured a woman who later died in a local hospital from severe wounds.
The most devastating day was January 6, when the elephant killed seven individuals in two villages, including a family of four. The ongoing threat has left villagers fearful and confined to their homes, despite efforts by wildlife personnel, government, and independent agencies to locate and tranquilize the rogue elephant for relocation.
Authorities have issued safety advisories to residents in the affected area, urging caution and immediate reporting of elephant encounters. The rise in human-elephant conflicts, as highlighted by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is attributed to habitat loss and human encroachment forcing elephants into closer contact with human populations.