Meera Bhardwaj:
Another elephant found dead in Karnataka on November 2, 2026 (seen in the above picture), this time, it is at GS Betta Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve – taking the number of elephant deaths and killings in Karnataka to a whopping 52 in the last 13 months.
52 elephants died between October 4, 2025 and November 2, 2026 and they include – wild elephants, deaths during elephant capture operations, and also of new camp elephants.
The November 2, 2026 dead elephant found in GS Betta Range is reported to have died more than 20 days back if one observes the highly decomposed body of the elephant in a farmer’s field. A pregnant and highly decomposed body – now why didn’t the farm owner complain to the forest authorities.
In mid-October, Maddur Range of Bandipur saw the death of a tusker with its two tusks missing – pointing towards rising poaching activity in this premier tiger reserve.
SHRINKING, FRAGMENTED HABITAT
Unfortunately, Karnataka state is facing a “severe crisis of elephant mortality” and human-elephant conflict (HEC) due to shrinking and fragmented habitat with the state govt rampantly implementing linear structures and further, proposing new hydropower projects like the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir in an elephant habitat and that too inside the protected area of Cauvery Sanctuary.
Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India, with 6,013 elephants recorded as per the DNA-based All-India Synchronous Elephant Estimation (SAIEE 2021–25). But will it be able to retain this precious elephant population is a million-dollar question what with the rising HEC and jumbo numbers showing a marginal decline.
Rising Number of Elephant Deaths in Karnataka is Primarily due to:
- Human-elephant conflict,
- Diversion of elephant habitat
- Destruction of elephant corridors
- Electrocutions
- Revenge killings
- Drownings
- Poaching for its tusks
- Capture operations
- Death in captivity
KARNATAKA’S TOTAL ELEPHANT DEATHS/CAPTURES
(Oct 4, 2025 to Nov 2, 2026)
ELEPHANT DEATHS = 52
ELEPHANT CAPTURES =16
- Elephants have died due to electrocution, drowning, poaching, etc.
- 16 elephants (maybe more) have been captured.
- Deaths of camp elephants too has risen.
- Botched-up capture operations, 2 or more darting
- Poaching for elephant tusks in Chamarajanagar district
DETAILS OF ELEPHANT DEATHS
OCTOBER DEATHS (6)
Oct 4, 2025: An adult tusker was found dead due to electrocution in Ramanagara forest division near Channapatna taluk, Bengaluru south district.
Oct 5, 2025: The body of a juvenile female elephant was found in Nagarhole tiger reserve of Kodagu district.
Oct 7, 2025: The body of a new born elephant was found in Bandipur tiger reserve of Mysuru district. It was a female elephant which died due to natural causes.
Oct 9, 2025: The body of a prime female elephant was found in the Bandipur tiger reserve of Mysuru district.
Oct 18, 2025: The body of a sub-adult elephant was found in Bannerghatta wildlife division, Bengaluru South district. It was a tusker.
Oct 30, 2025: The body of a young female elephant was found in Bandipur tiger reserve of Mysuru district. This elephant was a sub-adult.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
NOVEMBER 2025 DEATHS (7)
Nov 2, 2025: Two elephants were electrocuted at Sulegali village, Khanpur taluk, Belagavi district when a farmer had electrified the fence around the fields.
Nov 6, 2025: The carcass of an adult female elephant was found in the Bandipur tiger reserve of Mysuru district.
Nov 9, 2025: Two elephants were found dead as they had drowned in Harobele reservoir backwaters falling under Sathnuru Forest Range in Kanakapura taluk, Bengaluru South district.
Nov 9, 2025: The body of a prime tusker was found in Ramanagara forest division of Bengaluru South district.
Nov 9, 2025: The same day, the body of another adult tusker was found in Ramanagara forests in Bengaluru south district.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
DECEMBER 2025 DEATHS (6)
Dec 3, 2025: The body of a calf elephant was found dead in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Kodagu district.
Dec 4, 2025: A male adult elephant was found dead in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Mysuru district.
Dec 4, 2025: The body of an adult female elephant was found dead in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve of Mysuru district.
Dec 6, 2025: A female adult elephant was found dead in Bannerghatta Wildlife Division, Bengaluru South district.
Dec 25, 2025: The carcass of a 35-year-old tusker was found at Errekate Lake, Purani section, Yelandur Range, in BRT tiger reserve, Chamarajanagar district. Reasons not known.
Dec 25, 2025: The dead body of a female calf elephant was found in the Bannerghatta wildlife division, Bengaluru south district.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
JANUARY 2026 DEATHS (1)
Jan 13, 2026: A female calf elephant was found dead in BRT tiger reserve in Chamarajanagar district, reasons cited due to natural causes.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
FEBRUARY 2026 DEATHS (2)
Feb 3, 2026: A young, adult tusker was found dead in Nagarhole tiger reserve in Kodagu district and forest officials cited death due to natural causes.
Feb 7, 2026: A 15-year-old elephant was found dead due to electrocution in Doddaharave village, Periyapatna, Nagarhole tiger reserve, Kodagu district.
APRIL 2026 DEATHS (7)
April 9, 2026: An adult female elephant was found dead in the Cauvery Sanctuary of Chamarajanagar district.
April 10, 2026: A wild male (sub-adult) elephant was found dead in Bommasandra, Sangama Range, Cauvery Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district, reason cited, maybe, due to natural causes.
April 12, 2026: A female elephant was found dead in Virajpet, Kodagu district with forest officials citing death due to natural causes.
April 18, 2026: Three female elephants of a herd were rescued by forest officials when they got stuck in the deep, slushy backwaters of the Udutore Halla Dam, Suleri Palya, Hanur near MM Hills Sanctuary.
April 22, 2026: One of the three female elephants about 25-years-old which struggled extensively during the rescue operations in Udutore Halla Dam backwaters, MM Hills Sanctuary died three days later.
April 27, 2026: A male elephant was found dead in the BRT Tiger reserve, Chamarajanagar district. It was a calf elephant.
April 30, 2026: One sub-adult elephant died due to starvation at Belur, Hassan while its mother and rest of the herd moved away from the site.
April 30, 2026: A female adult elephant was found dead in Cauvery Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district.
MAY 2026 DEATHS (7)
May 9, 2026: An injured tusker died in Gopinatham Reservoir, Cauvery Sanctuary when it could not come out of the dam after drinking water. Locals alleged action was not taken to rescue the tusker.
May 11, 2026: A 36-38-year-old female elephant was found dead in Mugguru Range of Cauvery Sanctuary, it had died due to multiple organ failure.
May 19, 2026: Tusker, Marthanda died in an infighting with Kanjan, another aggressive camp at Dubare Elephant Camp as he was severely injured by Kanjan.
May 22, 2026: A wild female adult elephant was found dead in the forests of MM Hills Sanctuary of Chamarajanagar districtwherein the death occurred in the core zone of the protected area.
May 24, 2026: The carcass of a wild tusker died was found floating in the backwaters of Bommanahalli, Haliyal forest division in Uttar Kannada district. It is reported to have died due to accidental drowning as it had no injury marks.
May 25, 2026: A two-year-old female elephant was found dead in Neeradurgi beat, Bedaguli section, Punajanur wildlife range of B R Hills Tiger Reserve of Chamarajanagar district.
May 25, 2026: A very young tusker was found dead in a farm field in Sullia taluk, Dakshin Kannada district, it is said to have died in the aftermath of an attack by another tusker.
JUNE 2026 DEATHS (2)
June 4, 2026: A 25-year-old wild tusker was electrocuted when caught in a solar fencing at Tondoor in Kushalnagara, Kodagu district.
June 24, 2026: A 25-year-old wild Makhna elephant was found dead inside a coffee estate near Karepalya Patrol near Punajanur Wildlife Range, BRT Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar district. Reasons not known for its death.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
JULY 2026 DEATHS (4)
July 3, 2026: A carcass of a wild male elephant was found as it was electrocuted when caught in an electric fence around a plantation at Bhattargadde village near Talavara in Mudigere, Chikkamagaluru district.
July 7, 2026: An elephant was found dead at Dally’s estate, Kunjila-Kakkabe village in Kodagu district in the background of continuing conflict situation in this district. The reasons for its death are yet to be ascertained.
July 26, 2026: A female elephant was found dead inside a coffee estate in Virajpet taluk, Kodagu district while its calf was found to be inconsolable.
July 27, 2026: A highly decomposed body of young tusker (30-years-old) was found in Chikkamannugudde forests of Channapatna taluk, Bengaluru south district which was captured on June 25 and then released in the nearby forest. The conflict tusker had died 18-20 days back in the aftermath of its release after darting it two times.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
AUGUST 2026 DEATHS (3)
August 5, 2026: A 35-45-year-old tusker was electrocuted when it came in contact with a live wire in a private coffee estate in Mayamudi, Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district.
August 9, 2026: A tusker died due to natural illness in Bommajjikeri, Kolakeri village, Napokalu taluk, Kodagu district.
August 31, 2026: A 25-year-old female elephant was electrocuted at Kogilumane in Belur taluk, Hassan district when it came in contact with a sagging powerline. This low-lying power lines was hanging very low and caused its death, so a case has been filed against CESC.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
SEPTEMBER 2026 DEATHS (1)
September 29, 2026: A 19-year-old elephant died at the Dubare Elephant Camp in the aftermath of a botched-up capture operations at Arehalli, Hassan district.
OCTOBER 2026 DEATHS (5)
October 1, 2026: 32-year-old (named Shaurya) died at Sakrebyle Elephant Camp due to an infection and abscess in one of its hind limbs. A prime, healthy tusker, he was captured on February 22 at Balehonnur, Chikkamagaluru district for allegedly killing people. His death is surrounded by controversies on the treatment received at the camp.
October 13, 2026: A 12 to 15 years old male elephant was found dead in the Karadigudda lake forest area, Maddur Range, Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Both of its tusks were mysteriously missing raising suspicion of poaching. The incident has sparked severe poaching concerns and also exposed critical gaps in forest security.
October 19, 2026: The carcass of a 55-60-year-old female elephant was found near Marikatte Lake in Eredibba/Berambadi beat, Maddur Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Forest officials said it may be due to natural causes.
October 20, 2026: A 12 to 15 years old male elephant was found dead in the Karadigudda lake forest area, Hanur buffer zone of MM Hills Sanctuary. The body was highly decomposed, so the reasons for its death could not be ascertained.
October 23, 2026: One elephant calf was found dead when it slipped and fell down near Sulya, Dakshin Kannada district.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
NOVEMBER 2026 DEATHS (1)
Nov 2, 2026: A highly decomposed body of a pregnant female elephant was found in G S Betta Range of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. One can see and observe in the thumbnail image of this highly decomposed body.
——————————————————————————————————————————————–
The reasons for elephant deaths in Karnataka are due to varied reasons – if eight elephants were electrocuted due to illegal electric fences around farm fields – five elephants drowned and died in dam backwaters in some parts of the state. As per Karnataka Forest Department’s elephant mortality statistics in the state –most of the elephant deahts are mostly due to natural causes and they cite only a few cases due to electrocution.
According to wildlife activists and experts, the state forest department has failed to give any reasons for the death of so many elephants and mostly cite deaths due to natural causes. They add, “Till date, no action has been taken on deaths due to electrocution while the forest patrolling teams seem to be not doing their duties properly as so many carcasses of elephants that are highly decomposed have been found nearly 20-25 days after their deaths in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and, Ramanagara divisions. How is it possible to assess the cause of their deaths after so many days?”
The data and statistics given by Green Minute News is just the tip of the iceberg as many more cases of deaths of elephants may have taken place in the state and may never see light of the day.