38 elephants, 9 tigers died in Chhattisgarh since 2023, says forest min in assembly

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has recorded the deaths of 38 elephants and nine tigers since late 2023, while 562 other wild animals died due to unnatural causes during the same period, forest minister Kedar Kashyap told the assembly on Tuesday. The figures were shared in a written reply during the budget session to a question by Congress MLA Sheshraj Harbansh, who sought details of tiger, elephant and other wildlife deaths, including their causes and locations. The minister said the deaths were reported between December 2023 and January 2026. Of the 38 elephant deaths, the highest number was linked to electrocution, which accounted for 14 deaths, while 10 elephants died due to drowning.

Elephant deaths were reported from several forest divisions, including Raigarh, Dharamjaigarh, Balrampur, Surajpur, Korba, Katghora, Dhamtari, Bilaspur, Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve and Sarguja Elephant Reserve. Assembly records showed that two elephant deaths were reported in 2023, the toll rose to 18 in 2024, and another 16 were recorded in 2025. So far in 2026, two elephant deaths have been reported. On tiger deaths, Kashyap said nine tigers died in the state during the period.

Of these, two were electrocuted by poachers using illegal power fencing, while two others died in infighting. The data also included the death of an eight-year-old tiger from Raipur’s Nandan Van Zoo and Safari, which died at Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on October 10 last year due to multiple organ failure. The House was informed that tiger deaths were reported from Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Koriya, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Nandan Van Jungle Safari, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve and Surajpur. Apart from elephants and tigers, the state recorded 562 unnatural deaths of other wild animals, including leopards, bears, blue bulls and cheetal. Of these, 145 deaths were reported at Nandan Van Zoo and Safari alone — five in December 2023, 61 in 2024, 76 in 2025 and three in January 2026. The minister said causes behind these deaths included infighting, asphyxia, heat stroke, pneumonia and infection, among others. He added that the forest department was maintaining regular monitoring and taking steps for wildlife protection across the state.