Rebecca Manzi An elephant was injured in India after colliding with a bulldozer used by the local population to remove it: it is yet another episode of conflict between humans and these animals
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In the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India, a wild elephant was injured after colliding with a bulldozer used by local residents to drive it away. The incident, which took place in the Dam Dim area, has sparked outrage and once again highlighted the ongoing conflict between humans and elephants in the region. The driver of the bulldozer has been arrested, and the vehicle has been seized by authorities.
“The crowd initially tried to chase the animal away by throwing stones and pulling its tail.”
According to officials from the Forest Department, the crowd first attempted to drive the elephant away by hurling stones at it and pulling its tail. When these efforts failed, they resorted to using a bulldozer, provoking an instinctive reaction from the frightened elephant. The animal, startled and agitated, charged at the vehicle, sustaining injuries upon impact. A video of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, has drawn significant public attention to the case.
Authorities acted swiftly, arresting the bulldozer driver and charging him with violating the Wildlife Protection Act, as well as obstructing a government official. Additionally, a medical panel comprising three veterinarians has been established to assess the elephant’s condition and determine an appropriate course of action.
“West Bengal recorded 99 human deaths due to elephant encounters in 2023-2024.”
This incident is part of a broader conflict between humans and elephants in West Bengal. The continued expansion of human activities into forested areas has led to a rise in encounters, often with tragic consequences for both people and animals. In the 2023-2024 period, West Bengal recorded 99 human fatalities due to elephant encounters, one of the highest figures in India.
In recent years, several similar incidents have occurred, including the killing of a pregnant elephant in 2024 with a flaming spear. These events underscore the urgent need for more effective strategies to manage human-elephant coexistence, promoting solutions that prevent violent escalations while ensuring wildlife protection.
Local authorities and animal protection organizations are actively working to educate communities on less aggressive methods to deter elephants and implement more sustainable conservation policies. However, the challenge remains complex, requiring coordinated efforts from government institutions, wildlife experts, and local communities to strike a balance between human safety and elephant conservation.
