By Firstdespatch Desk Apr 12, 2026
Agartala. Apr 12 (FD) In a deeply troubling development ahead of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, two elephants have died within four days in North Tripura and Unakoti districts, reportedly due to starvation and lack of adequate care. The incidents have intensified public concern over the deteriorating state of wildlife and forest management in Tripura.
According to reports, a 14-year-old elephant died on April 8 in the Andhar Chhara area of Pecharthal in North Tripura. Just two days later, a 45-year-old elephant passed away in the hilly Thandachhara region along the Kailashahar–Dharmanagar road in Unakoti district, leaving behind a four-year-old calf. These back-to-back deaths have raised serious questions about the availability of food and the effectiveness of monitoring systems.
This is not an isolated crisis. At least three elephants have died in the past two months, indicating a pattern linked to the depletion of natural food sources and administrative negligence. Environmentalists warn that the forests of Tripura, once rich in biodiversity, are now under severe stress due to deforestation, habitat destruction, and increasing human interference.
The ecological imbalance is evident as species like deer, monkeys, and various birds have significantly declined, while larger predators had already disappeared years ago. Elephants, among the last surviving large mammals in the region, are now struggling to survive amid shrinking resources.
Adding to the controversy are allegations that elephants are being transferred out of the state to Gujarat under questionable circumstances. Critics claim that while elephants are being relocated, those remaining in Tripura are being neglected, raising concerns about transparency and possible financial irregularities.
Animal rights activists have expressed strong concern, warning that several elephants, especially in Pecharthal, remain at risk due to food shortages. Local owners have reportedly appealed multiple times to the Forest Department, but no effective intervention has been implemented.
With nearly 90% of elephant owners based in the Kailashahar region, many claim to follow a long-standing tradition of elephant care. However, they allege difficulties in obtaining proper documentation, while external agencies reportedly secure permissions more easily.
The timing of these deaths, just before the ADC elections, has further intensified scrutiny. Experts caution that without urgent action to restore forest ecosystems and ensure proper wildlife care, Tripura could face irreversible ecological damage. FD SB