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- 🐘 August 3 2026
🐘 August 3 2026
The Elephant News Service is provided by Save the Elephants for elephant lovers, scientists and conservationists who want to stay informed on the latest elephant news from reputable media sources worldwide. The stories are presented in no particular order.
Srijata Mishra, Odisha TV (India), August 2, 2026
Amid widespread flood devastation and distress across Odisha, the sight of a herd of elephants playing in the Baitarani River at Keonjhar brought a brief sense of relief and joy to affected local residents. While people across the state continue to struggle with the impact of the flooding, seeing the herd enjoying a bath together provided a momentary respite from the grim situation.
Times of India (India), August 2, 2026
A 53-year-old man was killed in a suspected wild elephant attack near the Muchiradka enclosure in Rekhya village under the Uppinangady forest range. Uppinangady range forest officer HP Raghavendra said the attack is suspected to have occurred while Balakrishna Gowda was returning from work. The department received information within an hour, and the body was traced. Footprints found in the area indicated the movement of a lone elephant, said the RFO.
The New Indian Express (India), August 2, 2026
A 70-year-old man was killed in a wild elephant attack at Kariyasholai near a coffee estate in Nelakottai. The deceased, identified as M Balasubramaniam, was a resident of Kodimaram 3rd Range under TANTEA. The incident occurred at a TNT coffee estate under the Bitherkadu Forest Range in the Gudalur Forest Division. Forest officials said, workers were plucking tea leaves despite heavy rain and dense mist when the elephant approached. Balasubramaniam, who was working in the estate, allegedly failed to notice the animal because of poor visibility caused by the mist.
Orissa Post (India), August 2, 2026
A 61-year-old woman was killed after a wild elephant attacked her house in Kalahandi district, while four other members of her family escaped unharmed, officials said. The victim, identified as Tilae Harijan of Pidelbaju village under Kumakhal panchayat in Lanjigada block, was unable to flee when a herd of elephants entered the village. According to officials and locals, the animal broke into the family’s house, damaged the structure and consumed stored food grains before trampling the woman to death.
Thai PBS World (Thailand), August 1, 2026
A baby wild elephant, believed to have become separated from its mother, has been rescued in Kanchanaburi province after being found exhausted and alone near a stream. Sai Yok National Park chief Peera Puangmalee said park rangers from the Mae Nam Noi protection unit were alerted by villagers in Moo 5 of Sai Yok subdistrict after a lone wild elephant calf was spotted on the bank of the Mae Nam Noi stream.
Itishree Sethy, Pragativadi (India), August 1, 2026
Two persons were killed in separate wild elephant attacks in Odisha’s Sundaragada district, sparking fear among residents of Koida and Biramitrapur. In the first incident, Sambari Munda (60) was trampled to death near the Koida forest area when she and her family encountered a tusker while stepping out of their house late at night. Her daughter Balma Munda sustained injuries while trying to escape. Locals later drove the elephant away and rushed Sambari to Koida CHC, where doctors declared her dead.
Kabita Pathak, The Sentinel (India), August 1, 2026
In a major breakthrough against wildlife trafficking, a team from of the Kamrup East Forest Division arrested two smugglers and seized around 10 kilograms of elephant ivory during a targeted operation in Guwahati's Dharapur area. The operation began after specific intelligence inputs. The accused have been identified as Deepjyoti Kalita and Subhash Deka. During the raid, forest officials recovered elephant tusks weighing approximately 10 kg.
Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), August 1, 2026
Uga Resorts has reached a significant conservation milestone with the completion of a second community elephant fence in Anuradhapura. Officially opened on July 15, 2026, the five-kilometre electric fence has been developed in partnership with the local community and the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR). The initiative will help protect 65 farming families and around 132 acres of agricultural land while supporting peaceful coexistence with Sri Lanka’s endangered elephant population.
Garhwal Post (India), August 1, 2026
A Van Gujjar was killed in a wild elephant attack in Kanswali beat of Shyampur range under Haridwar forest division this morning, creating panic among officials and locals. The deceased has been identified as Ehsan, a resident of a nearby Van Gujjar settlement, who had gone into the reserved forest to collect fodder. The reports suggest that he was confronted by a wild elephant which attacked him repeatedly, leaving him fatally injured on the spot. Witnesses stated that the elephant struck him several times, causing instant death.
Anustupa Mishra, Kalinga TV (India), August 1, 2026
A woman was gored to death by a wild tusker while walking near Tentulidihi Chhak under Koida Forest Range in Odisha’s Sundargarh district. The deceased identified as Sambari Munda (40) from nearby area when came out of her house. A wild tusker was passing through nearby and suddenly charge and attack on Sambari by swinging the trunk. The tusker had caught her with its trunk and gored it leaving it critically injured, villagers alleged. When the deceased shrieks aloud the villagers came there and repelled the wild tusker into the jungle, the incident report said.
The Rising Nepal (Nepal), July 31, 2026
An electric fence installed to protect crops from elephants has once again turned into a death trap in Mayalu Forest. Illegal electric wires installed to protect farmland from elephant raids are increasingly posing a serious threat to human life. At around 9:00 am on Wednesday, 65-year-old Jyoti Limbu was electrocuted after coming into contact with an exposed electric wire installed around her field to drive away elephants in the Mayalu Forest area of Bhadrapur.
Vishvendu Jaipuriar, Times of India (India), August 2, 2026
A 71-year-old man was trampled to death by a herd of elephants at Bedmakki village in Hazaribag district, marking the fifth such fatality this month and the 12th this year, officials said. Shankar Pandit had stepped out of his house around 5 am to answer nature’s call when he encountered a herd of nearly 25 elephants, villagers said. The animals have been moving through villages and forests along Barakar river for the past two to three days. Pandit died on the spot.
The Sentinel (India), July 31, 2026
The Assam government’s choice to raise the compensation for deaths caused by human-wildlife conflict, including Human Elephant Conflict (HEC), from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh, along with higher payments for crop losses, is a good step towards helping those affected by these conflicts. Sustainable resolution of human-wildlife conflict, however, requires a stronger preventive strategy rooted in landscape-level planning to address the new and emerging ecological drivers of these conflicts and effectively prevent their occurrence.