BHADRAPUR, Aug. 3: Human-elephant conflict in Jhapa has intensified over the years. In the past 16 years, 80 people have lost their lives in attacks by wild elephants.
According to the Division Forest Office in Bhadrapur, 28 elephants have also been killed in human-elephant conflicts during the same period.
Divisional Forest Officer Nathuni Yadav said that records from June 17, 2010, to July 16, 2026, show that 70 Nepalis and 10 foreign nationals were killed in wild elephant attacks.
The data indicates that, on average, five people die each year in elephant attacks, Yadav said.
Twist of fate: Wild elephant invades Elephant Festival
According to the office, 2023 recorded the highest number of human fatalities. Eight people, including three women, were killed that year.
In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26, six people lost their lives. Yadav said the families of each deceased victim were provided with relief of Rs. 1 million.
Office records show that two people died in 2010; seven each in 2011 and 2012; three in 2013; two in 2014; four in 2015; five each in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022; one each in 2018 and 2019; eight in 2023; four in 2024; and six in the FY 2025/26 as of July 16.
Yadav said 10 foreign nationals have also died in elephant attacks during the period. He added that the conflict has affected not only humans but elephants as well.
According to the office, 28 wild elephants have been killed since 2005. In 2025 alone, six elephants were killed.
Yadav said that encroachment on forest land, the expansion of human settlements, elephants' attraction to crops, and the disruption of traditional elephant corridors are the major factors behind the growing human-elephant conflict.
He added that local governments, security agencies and local communities are working together to conduct awareness campaigns, monitoring and rescue operations to help reduce such conflicts.
RSS
