Chasing giants, villagers pelt stones at wild elephants in Chhattisgarh, forest dept plans legal action

Raipur: Villagers seen chasing, cornering and pelting stones at a herd of wild elephants in a viral video may face action under the Wildlife Protection Act, with forest officials warning that provoking elephants can have fatal consequences.The footage, widely circulated on social media, shows people venturing dangerously close to the elephants in Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district. Some are seen climbing trees overlooking the herd while others shout and attempt to drive the animals away. The incident is reported to have taken place in the Marwahi forest division, where elephants have been moving through villages and forest fringes over the past few weeks.Wildlife experts say the scenes highlight a growing challenge across central India, where increasing human activity around elephant habitats is leading not only to conflict but also to risky attempts to chase, provoke or photograph the animals.Speaking to TOI, Marwahi divisional forest officer Grishmi Channd said authorities have identified at least one person seen in the video and are initiating action.“One individual has been identified and legal action is being initiated.

Such acts are serious offences. Disturbing or provoking wild elephants can endanger both human lives and the animals,” she said.Channd said one of the viral clips appears to be linked to the current elephant movement in the region, while another may be from an earlier incident.For nearly three weeks, a herd of four elephants has been moving through parts of the Marwahi landscape, often drawn towards settlements by seasonal fruiting trees such as jackfruit and mango.

Forest teams have been conducting announcements in villages, deploying “Hathi Mitra” volunteers and maintaining round-the-clock monitoring to alert residents about elephant movement.“We have repeatedly counselled villagers not to approach the animals. Range officers, field staff and local volunteers remain on the ground whenever elephant movement is reported. We are also coordinating with police and the district administration to prevent crowds from gathering near the herd,” Channd said.Following the video, forest officials have sought additional police deployment and proposed dedicated coordination teams in villages where elephant movement is frequent.Wildlife specialists warn that elephants, particularly when stressed or surrounded by crowds, can react unpredictably. While the animals generally avoid humans, attempts to chase, corner or provoke them can trigger aggressive behaviour, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. The incident comes at a time when Chhattisgarh continues to grapple with rising human-elephant interactions. From crop damage and destroyed homes to occasional attacks on people, elephant movement has become a recurring feature in several districts, forcing authorities to balance public safety with wildlife conservation.

For conservationists, the Marwahi video is a reminder that human curiosity and crowd behaviour can be as dangerous as the animals themselves.