Two sub-adult elephants electrocuted by illegal snares in Tirupati district

Two Asian sub-adult elephants reportedly died due to electrocution near Talakona South Beat, Bhakarapeta Range, Erravaripalem village in Tirupati district on Monday morning (March 9, 2026). According to the officials, a male and a female elephant, aged around 11–12 years, were found dead approximately 450 meters from the Reserve Forest boundary.

Speaking to The Hindu, District Forest Officer (DFO) V. Saibaba said, “As per the preliminary examination, the elephants died due to electrocution caused by illegal electric snares laid around agricultural fields. The snares consisted of aluminium wires connected to a 33/11 kV transmission line, intended to hunt wild animals.”

The deceased elephants were from the Talakona Reserve Forest, and they occasionally venture into nearby agricultural lands. However, over the last three months, their movement was largely restricted to the interior areas of the Reserve Forest. While moving out of the forest through Old Saibulapalle Rastha on Sunday night, they encountered the snares and died on the spot, he said.

The agricultural lands where the incident took place belong to Shaik Akthar and Shaik Shameer, who own mango and groundnut fields in Erravaripalem. A case has been registered in Bhakarapeta Range. For further investigation, a committee has been constituted with the DFO as Chairperson. The post-mortem of the carcasses was conducted in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.