They Escaped A Killer Elephant, But 14 Years Later It Found Them Again: Nepal Tusker Stalks, Kills 4 From A Family

Published 14 July 2026 · world

They Escaped A Killer Elephant, But 14 Years Later It Found Them Again: Nepal Tusker Stalks, Kills 4 From A Family Written By, Last Updated

They Escaped A Killer Elephant, But 14 Years Later It Found Them Again: Nepal Tusker Stalks, Kills 4 From A Family Written By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 17:59 IST Wildlife experts attribute the recurring violence to fracturing natural habitats rather than an intentional vendetta Official records from Chitwan Park confirm the animal has been linked to at least 25 human fatalities since 2010, alongside the destruction of dozens of homes. Representational image In an extraordinary and tragic case of human-wildlife conflict, a single rogue wild elephant has systematically devastated a single family in Nepal over a span of 14 years. The notorious male tusker, known locally as “Dhurbe", recently claimed the lives of two more family members, despite their desperate relocation miles away years earlier to escape the animal. Shanichara Bote, a resident living near Chitwan Park, has now lost four immediate family members to the same elephant.

Wildlife experts attribute the recurring violence to fracturing natural habitats rather than an intentional vendetta, but for the shattered Bote family, the nightmare has proved completely inescapable. The Fatal Timeline The decades-long tragedy unfolded in two distinct, brutal encounters across different geographic locations December 2012 (Madi): The nightmare began on the fringes of Chitwan Park in Dropatinagar. Dhurbe raided the area and fatally trampled Shanichara’s father, Budhiram, and his mother, Jharali. The Flight for Safety: Traumatised by the loss, Shanichara sold his properties and moved his family nearly nine miles away to Jagatpur. Believing that crossing two major rivers—the Reu and the Rapti—would act as a natural barrier, the family sought a peaceful life far from the core park boundary. July 2026 (Jagatpur): Fourteen years after the first attack, Dhurbe breached the new settlement at midnight.

The elephant smashed through the mud walls of Shanichara’s home. While trying to flee, Shanichara’s 25-year-old daughter-in-law, Ashika Bote, and his four-year-old grandson, Bharat Bote, were intercepted and killed. Nepal’s Most Infamous Tusker Dhurbe is widely considered one of the most dangerous wild elephants in modern Nepalese history. Official records from Chitwan Park confirm the animal has been linked to at least 25 human fatalities since 2010, alongside the destruction of dozens of homes. Despite a historical military manhunt in late 2012 that left the elephant severely wounded, Dhurbe survived and continued his seasonal raids, which typically peak during autumn and winter harvest cycles. Park authorities have fitted the animal with multiple satellite tracking collars over the years, yet structural gaps in real-time monitoring have failed to protect vulnerable communities. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Pathikrit Sen Gupta Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short.