Bandhavgarh Elephant Deaths: A Tragic Failure in Wildlife Management

Bandhavgarh Elephant Deaths: Mystery Deepens

The tragic deaths of 11 elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in October 2023, suspected to be caused by toxicity from fungus-infected kodo millet plants, have exposed a much darker reality. What began as a story of death due to poisoning quickly unraveled to reveal a tale of systemic neglect, and worse, a deliberate attempt to cover up the true cause of these deaths. As we delved deeper into the incident, it became evident that the negligence in handling the elephants' health and habitat played a crucial role in this tragic loss of life.

The sequence of events that led to this tragedy is equally alarming. On October 29, a herd of 10 elephants was discovered dead under mysterious circumstances. A month later, a calf from the same group died during treatment on November 10. This rapid loss of life has triggered widespread concerns, not just about the immediate cause of death, but about the overall safety of elephants in the reserve and the management of their habitat. The apparent disregard for proper care and the lack of accountability have raised serious questions about the reserve's administration.

Ajay Dubey, a prominent wildlife activist, voiced skepticism over the official explanation of the deaths at Bandhavgarh, questioning the plausibility of the toxic millet theory. "To kill an elephant, you need at least 50 kilograms of kodo millet for a lethal dose," Dubey pointed out. "Did all these elephants consume 50 kilos? Some might have ingested 20 kilos or less. How could they all die in such a short time?" 

Moreover, Dubey speaks about the glaring absence of evidence to support the theory that kodo millet is inherent

Bandhavgarh Elephant Deaths: Mystery Deepens

The tragic deaths of 11 elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in October 2023, suspected to be caused by toxicity from fungus-infected kodo millet plants, have exposed a much darker reality. What began as a story of death due to poisoning quickly unraveled to reveal a tale of systemic neglect, and worse, a deliberate attempt to cover up the true cause of these deaths. As we delved deeper into the incident, it became evident that the negligence in handling the elephants' health and habitat played a crucial role in this tragic loss of life.

The sequence of events that led to this tragedy is equally alarming. On October 29, a herd of 10 elephants was discovered dead under mysterious circumstances. A month later, a calf from the same group died during treatment on November 10. This rapid loss of life has triggered widespread concerns, not just about the immediate cause of death, but about the overall safety of elephants in the reserve and the management of their habitat. The apparent disregard for proper care and the lack of accountability have raised serious questions about the reserve's administration.

Ajay Dubey, a prominent wildlife activist, voiced skepticism over the official explanation of the deaths at Bandhavgarh, questioning the plausibility of the toxic millet theory. "To kill an elephant, you need at least 50 kilograms of kodo millet for a lethal dose," Dubey pointed out. "Did all these elephants consume 50 kilos? Some might have ingested 20 kilos or less. How could they all die in such a short time?" 

Moreover, Dubey speaks about the glaring absence of evidence to support the theory that kodo millet is inherently poisonous to elephants. “There are no wildlife reports or scientific studies, either internationally or nationally, that suggest kodo millet is harmful to elephants,” he stated, further questioning the validity of the official stance.

The Probe reached out to Dr. AB Shrivastav, a former director at the School of Wildlife Forensics and Health, for further insight. He emphasised the need for more research on this matter. "These elephants were grazing in an area where kodo millet had been planted," Shrivastav explained. "However, we still lack sufficient research to determine the exact threshold for toxicity in kodo millet. A specific study on this issue is urgently needed to understand the true risks involved." 

Ajay Dubey’s concerns on the other hand extends beyond the cause of the elephants' deaths to the response from the authorities in the aftermath of the tragedy. He questions the timeline of events and the actions of the police, particularly regarding the detention of individuals. "There needs to be more clarity," Dubey asserted. "Initially, when the incident occurred, the police detained some individuals, yet officials were quick to declare there was no foul play. So, the question is, why were these people detained in the first place?" 

A subsequent review by the Madhya Pradesh government into the deaths of the 10 elephants has further uncovered troubling details about the mishandling of the crisis. It was revealed that the Field Director, who should have been at the forefront of the response, allegedly refused to return from leave during the emergency. The Deputy Forest Divisional Officer, in turn, delegated his responsibilities to subordinates, compounding the failure of leadership at a critical time.

The Madhya Pradesh government has taken action by suspending the officer in question. The suspension order cites that Gaurav Chaudhary, a 2010 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, "violated Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968," by failing to return from leave after being informed of the crisis. The order also highlights his failure to respond to senior directives and neglect of official duties, as he kept his mobile phone switched off during the emergency. This lack of accountability at such a critical juncture is raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the reserve's management and the broader protection of wildlife in the region.

As we delved deeper into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the elephants, we reached out to several wildlife experts who have been closely monitoring the case to understand whether the elephants' lives could have been saved.

Wildlife activist Nitin Singhvi highlighted the inconsistencies in the official narrative. "There are reports suggesting the elephants ingested something poisonous around 8 or 9 pm and died by 2 am, 12 kilometers away from the site," Singhvi explained. "But elephants can't travel such a distance after getting food poisoning." He further pointed out that the government’s promotion of millets might be a factor in downplaying the true cause of death, suggesting a reluctance to create a bigger controversy over the issue.

In contrast, when we spoke to P.K. Verma, the Deputy Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, he refuted the claim that the elephants had traveled 12 kilometers. According to Verma, the elephants only walked about one and a half kilometers, which challenges the initial reports of their movements.

Singhvi, who has long been an advocate for wildlife protection in the region, also raised concerns about the broader implications of the deaths, particularly regarding the treatment of elephants in Madhya Pradesh. "Madhya Pradesh is tiger-centric," he said. "The state has captured 11 elephants over time. My public interest litigation (PIL) is still pending before the Jabalpur High Court concerning the illegal captivity of elephants." He further explained that out of a family of 13 elephants, 10 had died, and more recently, a calf had also passed away. Singhvi believes that the calf may have succumbed to capture myopathy, a condition that causes muscle damage due to stress, struggle, or extreme exertion, often proving fatal. “This is a huge issue that no one is addressing,” he emphasised. “We cannot ignore the deaths of these elephants.”

Singhvi also pointed to the Madhya Pradesh government’s focus on tigers as a reason why elephants in the state are not receiving the care they deserve. He argued that this tiger-centric approach is sidelining the needs of elephants, whose welfare remains a lower priority despite the growing concerns around their treatment and conservation.

“The elephants began showing signs of distress around 2 am, but they were only given treatment much later, at 2:30 pm,” says Dubey, highlighting the critical delay in medical intervention. "Local villagers were witnesses to the elephants’ suffering, hearing them scream and writhe in pain, crying out for help throughout the night. But help didn’t arrive in time. The golden period was lost," Dubey explains. His words point to a clear failure in the timely response, which could have made a difference in saving the animals.

Dubey also criticises the broader approach to elephant management in Madhya Pradesh, pointing out a significant lapse in leadership and resources. "Elephant management in MP has been a failure. Now, forest officials are being sent to other states to learn about elephant management, but this is the wrong approach," he argues. Instead, he believes that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) should coordinate with the five states in the elephant corridor—Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh—to create a comprehensive action plan for elephant management and ensure proper training for officials.

Shrivastav, meanwhile, expressed disbelief at the scale of the incident. "This is the first time I have seen such a large number of elephant deaths in a single incident," he stated. "This is a rare event, and in such cases, only symptomatic treatment can be provided." 

The failure to administer timely medical care is another key issue. Reports suggest that the elephants were not immediately treated for their symptoms, raising questions about the actions of those responsible. Sources told The Probe that the reserve had only one doctor on site, and that doctor was unavailable when the elephants needed urgent care. When other nearby veterinary professionals were contacted for assistance, many reportedly refused to help. It wasn’t until much later that a doctor finally arrived—by then, it was too late to prevent the deaths.

When we reached out to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve's Deputy Director P.K. Verma for clarification, he defended the actions of the reserve’s staff. "We conducted an extensive investigation, following a proper chronological timeline. We did everything possible," Verma claimed. "People will always talk, but we did everything we could to save the elephants. It is the work of activists to complain. But they have to come here and see how the local situation is. It’s not easy to get help in such an interior area of the jungle. This was totally unexpected. No doubt, this was a tragedy but we did our best." 

He further noted that two Indian Forest Service officers had been suspended in response to the incident and assured that the government was taking steps to formulate new policies to prevent such tragedies in the future. However, Verma’s defense has done little to alleviate concerns about the adequacy of the response and the broader issues of elephant management in the region.

The tragic deaths of the elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve serve as a reminder of the systemic failures in wildlife management, particularly in regard to the timely intervention and care that could have saved these majestic creatures. Despite the official claims of swift action and extensive investigations, the overwhelming evidence points to a lack of preparedness and a failure to prioritise the elephants’ welfare. As experts and activists continue to call for a more coordinated, science-based approach to elephant management, the need for accountability and reform becomes ever more urgent.