Jharkhand: Elephant electrocuted inside protected forest, RCCF asks ‘where will elephants live?’
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, October 6: The electrocution of a male elephant inside a protected forest, far from any human habitation,…
An elephant electrocuted inside a forest in Garhwa district.
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, October 6: The electrocution of a male elephant inside a protected forest, far from any human habitation, has triggered serious concern among forest officials in Jharkhand and raised fresh questions over the growing threat posed by illegal electric fencing to wildlife.
A 22- to 25-year-old male elephant was found electrocuted on October 5 in the Bishrampur protected forest under the Ranka East forest range in Garhwa district. Paddy fields surround the site, and it is far from human habitation.
Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF), Palamu, S R Natesha, expressed serious concern over the incident and warned that those responsible would face legal action.
“Where will elephants live now? They are being electrocuted right in the jungles. Where are the elephants safe? Such an act of crime against wildlife will be dealt with a firm hand of law,” Natesha told this correspondent.
The incident is particularly alarming because the elephant was electrocuted inside a protected forest rather than near a human settlement.
Electric Fencing Emerges as New Threat
Forest department sources said the latest incident is part of a disturbing pattern. An adult elephant was electrocuted in Balumath on September 7, while a bear was found electrocuted in the Kutku range of Palamu Tiger Reserve on September 22.
The latest elephant death in Ranka East has further highlighted the growing threat posed by electric fencing installed around agricultural fields to protect standing crops.
Sources said the fencing protects crops such as maize and paddy from wildlife. However, the practice can prove fatal for elephants, bears and other wild animals.
The incidents have added another dangerous dimension to the already intensifying human-wildlife conflict in Jharkhand, with no immediate reprieve in sight.
‘Electricity Is Stolen, Wildlife Is Killed’
Natesha said the use of illegally drawn electricity for fencing was unacceptable.
“Electricity is stolen, and with that electricity, wildlife is killed. It is unacceptable,” Natesha said.
He recalled that elephants had earlier been killed or injured after their extended trunks came into contact with sagging overhead electricity wires.
“Such incidents used to occur until 2022 and 2023,” Natesha said.
According to him, the situation has improved considerably with the use of insulated or covered electric wires and faster action by the concerned department to address sagging electricity lines. As a result, incidents involving elephants coming into contact with overhead live wires have declined.
Four Bundles of Electric Fencing Wire Recovered
However, the latest incident points to a different and potentially more dangerous threat—electric fencing deliberately installed around crop fields.
Ranka East Range Officer Ajay Toppo said forest officials recovered at least four bundles of electric wire allegedly used for electric fencing to protect standing crops in the area where the elephant was found dead.
Natesha said those installing such fencing are aware of the potentially fatal consequences but remain focused on protecting their crops.
“People who use electric fencing know the fatalities it can cause, but for the sake of protecting their standing crops, they are least bothered about the death of elephants or other wildlife,” he said.
The latest death has once again brought the issue of illegal electric fencing and wildlife protection into sharp focus, highlighting the difficult balance between crop protection and conservation in Jharkhand’s forest areas.
