6 min readNew DelhiMar 3, 2026 12:15 PM ISTMost cases of human-induced elephant deaths were linked to illegal high-voltage fencing erected by farmers and exposed power lines near forests. (Image generated using AI)NGT news: A report by the Kerala Forest Department submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has revealed that electrocution from illegal power lines, train collisions along forest corridors and explosive traps laid for wild boars have together claimed the lives of 77 wild elephants in the state in the last six years – deaths that authorities now concede were entirely preventable.The figures were placed before the Southern Zonal Bench of the NGT in a suo motu case triggered by a July 19, 2024, news report highlighting the rising elephant mortality in the state.While natural causes still account for the majority of elephant deaths, the tribunal was informed that human-induced factors, though numerically smaller, represent a serious and escalating conservation challenge.Also Read | Wild elephant kills 17-year-old girl in front of parents in Karnataka’s Kodagu“Human-induced causes accounted for 10.4 per cent of the mortality, representing a smaller volume but entirely preventable loss,” the report submitted by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) to the NGT stated.744 deaths in 6 yearsThe expert committee report submitted on February 4 recorded 744 wild elephant deaths between April 2019 and March 2025, averaging 124 deaths per year.Natural causes accounted for 89.6% (667 deaths) of the total mortality, with disease being the leading factor at 12.10%.The report highlighted rising mortality rates, particularly among elephants under 10 years of age, citing 40% of deaths in young ones to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus-Haemorrhagic Disease (EEHV-HD).Based on population estimates ranging between 2,000 and 2,785 elephants, the annual mortality rate stands between 4.45% and 6.2%.Officials maintained that the population remains “demographically stable” because the addition of about 168 calves annually, slightly exceeds the mortality average.However, the report flagged worrying trends such as that mortality peaked in 2019–20 with 135 deaths and again in 2024–25 with 150 deaths.Deaths consistently spike during the dry season from January to May.Juvenile elephants are disproportionately vulnerable.Preventable deaths: Electrocution tops listOut of the 744 deaths recorded, 77 were classified as human-induced.Electrocution alone accounted for 5.51% of total deaths, with incidents tripling over the six-year period.Most cases were linked to illegal high-voltage fencing erected by farmers and exposed or poorly insulated power lines near forest fringes.“Electrocution was identified as the leading unnatural cause,” the report notes, recommending strict regulation of electric fencing and infrastructure audits.Train collisions in PalakkadTransport accidents, including train and vehicle collisions, accounted for 1.08% of overall mortality, with the Palakkad forest division emerging as a hotspot for train hits.Forest officials told the tribunal that mitigation measures in railway corridors are “critical to reducing accidental mortality.”Also Read | https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/elephant-reserves-in-india-you-should-visit-10544384/Explosives, poachingExplosive traps, often set to kill wild boars, accounted for 1.08 per cent of deaths, with juvenile elephants increasingly falling victim.Poaching and poisoning, though smaller in numbers, remain persistent threats.The report referenced the growing use of such improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in conflict zones and warned that retaliatory actions by frustrated farmers are contributing to these deaths.Juveniles face disproportionate riskThe data presented to the NGT revealed a U-shaped mortality curve, with calves and older adults most affected.Calves under one year and juveniles aged 1–5 years together accounted for 30.9% of deaths.Juveniles form only 6.5% of the population but suffered 16.5% of all recorded deaths.Male elephants showed slightly higher mortality (49.4%) compared to females (46.2%), particularly in sub-adult males who tend to disperse into human-dominated landscapes.Dry season: critical windowA clear seasonal pattern emerged in the analysis.Between January and June, conflict and mortality rates rise sharply as elephants move closer to settlements in search of water and crops, like jackfruit.“The period from January to June was identified as a high-risk window where HEC (Human-Elephant Conflict) incidents escalate,” the report observed.In contrast, mortality dips during the monsoon months when water and food are abundant inside forest habitats.4 mortality hotspotsSpatial mapping revealed strong correlations between mortality zones and HEC hotspots.These include Wayanad landscape, Nilambur region, Parambikulam–Munnar–Malayattoor belt and Periyar–Ranni–Konni landscape.Malayattoor recorded the highest natural mortality with 89 deaths, while Palakkad emerged as a centre for human-induced deaths, particularly train collisions.NGT’s suo motu interventionThe case before the tribunal originated after a news report titled “845 elephant deaths recorded in Kerala in eight years” appeared in an English daily on July 19, 2024.Acting suo motu, the NGT sought a comprehensive review of mortality patterns.The Kerala government subsequently issued a government order dated October 15, 2024, constituting a five-member expert committee to study the issue.The committee included senior forest officials, a veterinary officer, and wildlife monitoring experts.ICYMI | Rivaldo, the ‘friendly’ wild tusker who chose freedom over captivity, dies at 45Proposed ‘missions’ to tackle crisisThe report recommended several targeted interventions, including Mission FFW (Food, Fodder & Water): Dry-season habitat restoration and artificial water provisioning.Mission Solar Fencing: Regulation and repair of fencing to curb electrocution.Mission RRT: Rapid Response Teams to prevent retaliatory killings.Mission Real-Time Monitoring: Tracking elephant movement across corridors.EEHV Surveillance: State-level disease monitoring framework.Infrastructure reforms, including insulation of power lines and safety upgrades in railway zones, were flagged as urgent priorities.Preventable tollWhile the report concludes that Kerala’s elephant population remains stable for now, it warns that preventable deaths, particularly electrocutions and transport accidents, pose a long-term threat.“The present scenario calls for strict enforcement of infrastructural safeguards and disease surveillance mechanisms, while ensuring that conservation strategies evolve from reactive measures to proactive landscape management,” the report states.For a state that reveres the elephant as both ecological keystone and cultural icon, the tribunal proceedings have laid bare a stark reality – the greatest danger to Kerala’s wild elephants is not nature, but human infrastructure and the choices that accompany it.Vineet Upadhyay is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, where he leads specialized coverage of the Indian judicial system. Expertise Specialized Legal Authority: Vineet has spent the better part of his career analyzing the intricacies of the law. His expertise lies in "demystifying" judgments from the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and District Courts. His reporting covers a vast spectrum of legal issues, including: Constitutional & Civil Rights: Reporting on landmark rulings regarding privacy, equality, and state accountability. Criminal Justice & Enforcement: Detailed coverage of high-profile cases involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED), NIA, and POCSO matters. Consumer Rights & Environmental Law: Authoritative pieces on medical negligence compensation, environmental protection (such as the "living person" status of rivers), and labor rights. Over a Decade of Professional Experience: Prior to joining The Indian Express, he served as a Principal Correspondent/Legal Reporter for The Times of India and held significant roles at The New Indian Express. 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