Electrocution suspected after young elephant found dead in Assam

Guwahati: A seven-year-old wild elephant turned up dead Sunday near the Nampathar Reserved Forest in Boko. The carcass lay just 100 metres from the main road. Forest Department staff from the Bandapara office arrived on site to secure the area and launch an inquiry. Initial findings point toward electrocution as the cause.

Officials do not believe the animal died of natural causes. However, the final verdict rests on a pending post-mortem report. "Forest officials said the death did not appear to be natural based on initial observations." Authorities will determine if legal action is necessary once they get the results.

This loss highlights the persistent struggle between humans and wildlife in the region. Assam tracks thousands of elephants, yet fatalities remain common. Official assembly records show that 246 elephants and 1,147 people died in conflict-related incidents over the last decade.