Elephant killed by electric trap wire in Ukhiya

An elephant was found dead after being caught in an electric trap wire in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya upazila.

Forest Department recovered the carcass from a farmland in Rajapalang union's Pashchim Khayrati area this morning.

Local UP member Syed Hamza said residents spotted the dead elephant and informed the Forest Department.

Cox's Bazar South Forest Department Ukhiya Range Officer Abdul Mannan said locals noticed a dead adult elephant in a field in the morning. Later, Forest Department visited the spot and recovered the carcass.

He said the elephant had dark burn marks on its body, and they suspect it died after coming in contact with an electric trap set up illegally in the area.

Dochhari Beat Officer Emdadul Haque Rony said some farmers set up electric fencing on the perimeter of their cropland to prevent crop damage, and elephants often die after getting entangled in these wires.

Md Yunus, a resident of the area, said many farmers use electric traps to protect paddy fields and banana plantations, which leads to elephant deaths.

Range Officer Abdul Mannan said the elephant was buried after an autopsy. An investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of death.

According to the Forest Department, five wild elephants have died in Ukhiya and Teknaf between January and November 18, 2025. These include the death of a mother elephant in Teknaf, two elephants in Hnila Beat and Jumchhari, one in Dochhari, and the latest one in Pashchim Khayrati of Ukhiya.