🐘 July 20 2026

July 20, 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.

Highland Post (India), July 19, 2026

A herd of 13 wild elephants damaged crops and a house in Kolomboit village under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division. Villagers said the elephants destroyed hundreds of betel nut trees along with pineapple and ginger crops belonging to several farmers. One house was also damaged. “Fortunately, no one was there in the house that night as my wife, children and I were not at home,” a villager stated. Residents said the herd has been frequenting Ranikor for about four years and is still camping on the outskirts of the village.

Tripura Info (India), July 19, 2026

Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Saturday said the state government has established five anti-depredation camps in Khowai district and introduced a series of measures to reduce human-elephant conflict in vulnerable areas. Speaking after inaugurating the state-level 77th Van Mahotsav at Teliamura, the minister said the newly established camps at Maiganga, North Krishnapur, Chakmaghat, Ghilatali and East Laxmipur will strengthen field-level response to elephant movement.

Methmalie Dissanayake, The Morning (Sri Lanka), July 19, 2026

For the first time in years, the State has moved to legally clear elephant corridors rather than simply declare them on a map. Three routes in the south and east – Handapanagala, Wetahirakanda, and Koholankala – have been gazetted; families occupying blocked land have been promised alternative plots; and a new national action plan is being drafted to replace a framework that has remained largely unimplemented since 2020. The Government is presenting this as a turning point after decades of failed fences and forced elephant drives.

Sunita, Kalinga TV (India), July 19, 2026

In a tragic incident, a man was killed in an elephant attack in Radhua village under Bansapala block in Bhuya Juanaga Pitha range. The deceased has been identified as Narottama Juanga of Radhua village. Sources revealed that Narottama was returning to his house when the elephant attacked him, which left him critically injured. Narottama died while he was being rushed to the nearby Bansapala hospital for treatment. On receiving information, the Forest Department officials and the police have reached the spot and are conducting investigation.

Avik Chakraborty, NorthEast Now (India), July 19, 2026

A wild elephant was found dead under mysterious circumstances near the Abhaypur Reserve Forest in Assam’s Charaideo district, triggering concern among wildlife officials and local residents. The elephant had reportedly ventured out of the reserve forest in search of food before its carcass was discovered near the forest fringe. The exact cause of death remains unknown. Soon after receiving the information, personnel from Sonari Police Station and officials of the Forest Department rushed to the spot and launched an investigation.

The Sun (Malaysia), July 19, 2026

A resident of Kampung Orang Asli Perjek in the Legap Resettlement Scheme (RPS), Sungai Siput, Perak, was injured after being attacked by an elephant while trying to drive away a herd that had entered the village. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia said personnel from its Sungai Siput district office were deployed to the scene after receiving a report of the incident at about 10 pm to gather preliminary information and investigate.

Shubham Tigga, Indian Express (India), July 18, 2026

After a single elephant killed 20 people in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district over 10 days in January, the state’s struggle to manage human-elephant conflict has come into sharp focus. With attacks continuing in several districts, the Forest Department has been looking for better ways to track elephant movement and warn people in vulnerable areas. One person trying to address the problem is 17-year-old Avi Mohan Shukla. He has taken a gap year to work at the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) on an AI-based elephant early warning and deterrent system.

United News of Bangladesh (Bangladesh), July 18, 2026

A dialogue was held in Sherpur's border-adjacent Garo Hills on Saturday to explore ways to reduce the growing phenomenon of human-elephant conflict and ensure the protection of wild elephants through peaceful coexistence. The programme, styled as a "Joint Dialogue," took place in the Batkuchi area under the Madhutila Range of Nalitabari upazila, where residents affected by elephant attacks, members of the Elephant Response Team (ERT), nature conservationists and volunteers shared their experiences and recommendations.

Kabita Pathak, The Sentinel (India), July 18, 2026

A liquor-laden truck was extensively damaged after being attacked by two wild elephants inside the Narengi Army Camp in Guwahati. As per reports, the truck, bearing registration number AS-19-AC-7864, had arrived from Tezpur carrying a consignment of liquor for delivery to the Narengi military camp. Shortly after entering the camp premises, the vehicle was reportedly confronted by two wild elephants that suddenly emerged and blocked its path

Rituraj Nath, Guhawati Plus (India), July 18, 2026

The death of a female elephant in Tinsukia district after an electrocution incident has once again brought Assam’s growing human-elephant conflict into focus, with the state government revealing that the crisis has claimed 1,147 human lives and 246 elephant deaths over the past decade. The elephant was found dead on the morning of July 7 in a paddy field near Duwarmara Balijan village, close to the Duwarmara Reserve Forest under the Doomdooma Forest Division in Tinsukia district.

Times of India (India), July 18, 2026

Eight years after a breakaway herd of wild Asian elephants from Odisha switched base to the Bandhavgarh tiger reserve in 2018, in what was believed to be natural migration, the Madhya Pradesh forest department has launched a scientific study to map elephant corridors, habitat use and conflict hotspots across the Bandhavgarh-Sanjay landscape, officials said. The initiative was announced at a one-day inception and planning workshop at Tala in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Nihar Jamatia, NorthEast Wire (India), July 19, 2026

Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma launched five anti-depredation camps in the Khowai district to stop elephants from raiding villages. These watch towers sit in Mungiakami, North Krishnapur, Chakmaghat, Ghilatali, and East Laxmipur. Crews dug 9 kilometres of trenches to block the herds. A new 24-hour helpline now helps locals report elephant movement. The government hopes this infrastructure will finally curb local conflicts. Debbarma argued that planting trees means nothing if they die immediately. "Plant trees, save trees, save yourself," he told the crowd at Chitrangada Kala Kendra.

Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com (U.S.), July 17, 2026

Elephants can hear something humans can’t: conversations traveling through the ground beneath their feet. Along with trumpets and deep rumbles that travel through the air, elephants produce low-frequency sounds that send vibrations into the Earth. Other elephants can detect these seismic signals from kilometers away. The vibrations travel through their feet and legs before reaching the skull and inner ear, allowing elephants to effectively “hear” through their bodies.

People’s Daily (China), July 17, 2026

At a time when Asian elephant numbers are declining globally, one herd in southwest China has added seven members in just five years. The herd, known as the "short-nose family," captured worldwide attention in 2021 after roaming more than 1,400 kilometers across Yunnan Province. It returned to its traditional habitat with 14 members. With two calves born this year, the family has since grown to 21. Its growth is part of a much larger story.

Asian Elephant News