The Wildlife Conservation Department reports that 298 elephants have been killed by electrocution since 2018.
Reports show that 72 elephants have died in 2023, 50 in 2022, 66 in 2021, 31 in 2020, 41 in 2019 and 38 in 2018.
Major factors contributing to elephant deaths from electrocution include the use of land by local communities in areas of high human-elephant conflict, as well as the development of private electric fences.
During surprise inspections conducted from January 1 to March 10, wildlife officials found 2,009 private electric fences, and 583 (29.02%) were found to be defective.
However, the owners were promptly advised to correct these defects. In addition, an inspection of 147 electric fences constructed as per the wildlife department’s standards did not reveal any defects.