Four women killed in elephant rampage in Kachin State

A rampaging elephant caused the deaths of four women in Tanai Township, Kachin State, on the morning of December 8, according to a local resident who spoke to The Daily Eleven.

The elephant, which belonged to a resident of Ta Yone Village, initially trampled an elderly woman guarding a farm hut. It then entered Dukaung Ward in Tanai Township, where it attacked multiple people.

“The elephant killed an elderly woman at the farm hut. In Dukaung Ward, about ten people, including a nun, were attacked. Three of them died instantly, and another passed away at the hospital. All of the victims were women. There were also injuries, including broken arms and legs, with those affected receiving treatment at the hospital,” the resident reported.

On December 9, local authorities used vehicles to warn residents about the dangerous elephant.

According to 2017 records, Tanai Township had 162 registered domesticated elephants. In Kachin State, 898 privately owned elephants and 97 elephants belonging to the Myanmar Timber Enterprise are registered.

Kachin State has experienced similar incidents in the past. In 2014, an elephant rampage killed four people in the Hpakant region. In 2019, three people died near Nyaung Pin Village in the Indawgyi region, prompting some villagers to flee.

Tanine Township lies within the Hukawng Valley, an area known for its elephant population. Many elephants in the region are raised as privately owned domesticated animals.