Elephants are often celebrated for their intelligence and gentle demeanor, but interactions between humans and these majestic creatures can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes. The following accounts highlight ten real-life elephant attacks, underscoring the importance of respecting wildlife and understanding the potential dangers of close encounters.
1. Festival Chaos in Kerala, India
In February 2025, during the annual festival at the Manakulangara temple in Kuruvangad, Kerala, two elephants became agitated after being spooked by fireworks. The panicked animals rampaged through the crowd, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals and injuring 30 others, including a 10-year-old girl. According to Mathrubhumi English, two elephants agitated by fireworks at the Manakulangara Temple festival in Kerala caused a stampede that left three dead and 30 injured. The elephants caused extensive damage, crashing into walls and toppling a building. Authorities investigated the incident, focusing on adherence to safety regulations during such events.
2. Tragedy at Koh Yao Elephant Care, Thailand
According to CBS News, 22-year-old Spanish tourist Blanca Ojanguren García was fatally attacked by an elephant while bathing the animal at Koh Yao Elephant Care Center in Thailand. While bathing the animal alongside her boyfriend, the elephant unexpectedly pushed her with its trunk, causing severe injuries. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, García succumbed to her injuries. The sanctuary was subsequently closed, and the incident raised concerns about the safety of close interactions between tourists and elephants.
3. Fatal Encounter in Phu Kradueng National Park, Thailand
In December 2024, 49-year-old Jeeranan from Chachoengsao province was attacked by a wild elephant while hiking in Phu Kradueng National Park. The elephant charged at her twice on a trail leading to the Phen Phop Mai Waterfall, inflicting fatal injuries. This marked the first recorded instance of a wild elephant attacking a tourist in the area. Following the incident, park officials temporarily closed tourist attractions and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
4. Rampage in Karnataka, India
On a single day in February 2025, three separate elephant attacks in Karnataka, India, resulted in the deaths of three individuals. A 70-year-old woman was trampled in Madikeri, a 24-year-old man lost his life in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and another woman’s body was found in Belur, suspected to be a victim of an elephant attack. These incidents have intensified discussions about the escalating human-elephant conflict in the region and the effectiveness of measures like elephant radio collars to prevent such tragedies.
5. Dhurbe’s Reign of Terror in Nepal
Dhurbe, a wild male elephant in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, has been responsible for the deaths of 16 people and the destruction of over 50 houses between 2009 and 2012. Despite efforts to track and manage him, Dhurbe has continued to pose a threat, with reports of attacks as recent as January 2024. His aggressive behavior has made him notorious, highlighting the challenges in managing human-wildlife conflicts in regions where elephants roam freely.
6. Tourist Tragedy in Kruger National Park, South Africa
In January 2025, a 59-year-old grandfather was trampled to death by an elephant near the Malelane Gate in Kruger National Park. The man was reportedly protecting his grandchildren, aged five and eleven, when the elephant charged. This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the potential dangers of close encounters, even within managed park environments.
7. Escalating Conflicts in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, the elephant population has surged to over 50,000, far exceeding the park’s capacity of 10,000. This overpopulation has led to increased human-elephant conflicts, with more than 60 deaths and 50 injuries reported in 2020 alone. The competition for resources has intensified encounters between elephants and local communities, often resulting in tragic outcomes.
8. Deadly Encounter in Assam, India
In the northeastern state of Assam, India, human-elephant conflicts have been on the rise due to habitat encroachment and loss. Between 2019 and 2024, elephants were responsible for 2,829 human deaths in the country. In response, initiatives like the “Haati App” have been developed to alert villagers of nearby elephant movements, aiming to prevent such fatal encounters.
9. Fatal Attack in Eastern Thailand
In 2024, a 69-year-old woman named Boonsri, who had never seen an elephant in her village a decade prior, was killed when a wild elephant entered her home in eastern Thailand. The incident reflects the increasing human-elephant conflicts in the region, attributed to habitat loss and conservation efforts that have brought elephants into closer contact with human populations.
10. Annual Tragedies in Kerala, India
Kerala, India, reports approximately 50 human deaths annually due to elephant attacks. In January 2025, during the Puthiyangadi festival in Tirur, an elephant attack resulted in one death and 17 injuries. These frequent incidents highlight the ongoing struggle to balance elephant conservation with human safety in regions where both populations coexist closely. These incidents serve as sobering reminders of the potential dangers associated with human-elephant interactions. While elephants are often gentle giants, respecting their space and understanding the risks of close encounters is crucial for minimizing conflicts and ensuring both human and animal safety.