Despite straightforward evidence of killings by electrocution, not a single case has been filed, and no perpetrators have been brought to justice
An increasing number of elephants are dying of deliberate electrocution in Nepal, but the government has failed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The lack of legal action and enforcement has led to a rise in elephant deaths by electrocutions, raising serious concerns about wildlife conservation efforts in Nepal.
Sixty-two elephants have died in the past 24 years, with forty-eight of these deaths caused by deliberate electrocution, according to Bardiya National Park Chief Conservation Officer Ashok Ram.
His research on elephant conservation also found that eight elephants had been shot, while four were killed by poachers. Despite straightforward evidence, investigations into electrocution cases have led to no prosecutions, reflecting the government’s failure to act.
“When it is confirmed that an elephant has died due to electrocution, no one is prosecuted,” said Shristi Singh Shrestha, executive director of the Jane Goodall Institute Nepal.
She further points out, “Elephants have been electrocuted, but what action has been taken? There are no reports. There is no information on how many people have been prosecuted or brought to justice.
“Instead, the justification often given is that elephants cause damage, so they are killed in retaliation. This response from the authorities is unacceptable.”
On February 19, 2025 [7 Falgun 2081], an elephant was found dead in a field under Laljhadi Rural Municipality of Kanchanpur district. Ram Bichari Thakur, Division Forest Officer of Kanchanpur, confirmed that the cause of death was electrocution.
“It was an adult elephant with no external injuries. The post-mortem confirmed that the main cause of death was electrocution,” Thakur stated. The elephant had reportedly been troubling locals for two months.
Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, and Saptari districts alone accounted for thirty-five of the sixty-two recorded elephant deaths. Locals, frustrated by crop destruction and property damage, install electric fences to deter elephants, often resulting in fatal consequences.
Jiwan Pathak, acting Divisional Forest Officer of Jhapa, explains, “Organized groups of two to three hundred people set up electric traps. If an elephant steps on the electrified fences, it gets electrocuted. In dry areas, they sometimes survive, but in most cases, they die instantly.”
Currently, Nepal has an estimated 407 elephants, of which 227 are wild and 180 are domesticated. Of the domesticated elephants, 110 are government-owned, while seventy are privately owned.
Additionally, around 150 elephants migrate to Nepal from India. Over the past 24 years, 349 people have died from elephant attacks.
Lack of action and accountability
Elephants play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, biodiversity, and climate regulation. By consuming enormous amounts of vegetation – up to 250 kg of grass daily – they prevent overgrowth and support other species.
Ecologist Dr Haribhadra Acharya warns that the disappearance of elephants would disrupt the entire ecosystem. “When elephants affect humans, people resort to killing them. However, the impact of their loss will be felt throughout nature,” he said.
Despite straightforward evidence of electrocution, not a single case has been filed, and no perpetrators have been brought to justice. According to Shrestha, this impunity emboldens those responsible for the killings.
“The government boasts about conservation achievements on the global stage, but it has consistently failed to take action against those electrocuting these endangered animals,” she said.
Shiva Wagle, spokesperson and joint secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, defends the government’s stance, claiming that investigation responsibilities lie with local authorities.
“We have coordinated with provincial governments on elephant conservation and urged them to take necessary steps,” he said. However, local officials express frustration over the lack of enforcement mechanisms.
Jiwan Pathak, the acting forest officer in Jhapa, argues that the current legal framework makes it impossible to prosecute offenders.
“Hundreds of people collaborate to install electric fences. Who should be arrested and sued? Everyone has the same justification – they are protecting their homes and crops,” he said, adding, “With limited resources, our team cannot effectively address the issue.”
Similarly, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, head of Kunda Sub-Division Forest Office in Kanchanpur, said, “Elephants kill people and destroy crops, which fuels anger among locals. In such cases, prosecution becomes extremely difficult.”
Unimplemented conservation plans
In response to rising elephant deaths, the Ministry of Forests and Environment formed a study committee in 2023, led by then-Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ajay Karki.
The committee conducted field studies in elephant-affected districts, including Sunsari, Udayapur, and Jhapa, and concluded that elephants were being killed by electric traps meant to drive them away from human settlements.
The committee provided recommendations for mitigation measures, but to date, none have been implemented.
Asian elephants, found in Nepal and India, are listed as critically endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act states that those who kill wild elephants – a protected and endangered animal – face fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 million and imprisonment from one to 15 years. However, enforcement remains virtually nonexistent.
Despite the government’s claims of conservation success, evidence suggests otherwise. Ministry teams have found illegal electric traps in Jhapa, yet no actions have been taken against those responsible.
Elephants migrating from India to Nepal face further dangers as they travel to protected areas such as Parsa National Park and Dang, but their safety remains in jeopardy due to the government’s inaction.
Unless authorities take immediate steps to implement conservation strategies and prosecute offenders, Nepal’s elephant population will continue to face a grim future.
