A herd of wild elephants reportedly killed a 41-year-old man in Pemathang of Gelegphu Gewog yesterday. The incident happened at around 7:15 pm. The deceased from Trashi Yangtse worked as a driver with the Bank of Bhutan. He is survived by a wife and four children.
Sources said the victim was returning home after reaching hay to one of his friends’ house in Pelrithang. He had encountered the herd of wild elephants in the middle of a road. Locals shared of sighting a mother elephant with two calves in the area following the incident.
This is the first reported case of wild elephants killing a human in Gelephu this year. It has left other residents in the locality worried. They are hoping for an immediate intervention from relevant authorities to keep wild elephants at bay.
“People are spending sleepless nights chasing elephants. They have started coming even before the night falls. Following the incident yesterday, people are more scared. They want to be home before sunset and they no longer want to guard their crops from wild elephants, “Raju Magar, from Pemathang, said.
The Tshogpa of Pelrithang Khatoed said most people leave their lands fallow and are covered in thick bushes. This encourages wild animals to get closer to human settlements.
“If the bushes are cleared, the wild elephants will not have a place to stay or hide. But since that’s not the case, the thick forest provides shelter for various wild animals. It puts human lives at risk,” Sangay Dorji said.
