April 17, 2025
ZHEMGANG – A herd of 11 elephants has, for the first time, moved from Sarpang to Zhemgang, leaving Tingtibi residents without water for two days after destroying the water pipes.
The elephants reached Bakaling (Nabey) in Tama-Berti Chiwog under Trong Gewog at around 3pm on 12 April and returned to their previous habitat at around 4am on 14 April. Bakaling is about 90 km from Gelephu and 7 km from Tingtibi towards Gelephu.
The elephants also partly damaged three temporary labour camps in Bakaling and consumed the alcohol at the camps.
The elephants followed the ancient trail along Chablaychhu in Jigmecholing and reached the area via Royal Manas Park, according to forestry officials from Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in Tingtibi.
Locals in Jigmecholing have informed the forestry officials of a herd of 14 elephants loitering in their area. “We believe the herd has returned, as some of its members have been left behind in Jigmecholing,” said the forestry official.
Forestry officials confirmed that this was the first sighting of elephants in the area. “Elephants were once seen at Chablaychhu, but there have been no sightings for a long time,” he said, adding that there was a recent sighting in the Trong Gewog jurisdiction.
With shrinking habitat and food, elephants are moving from the southern foothills to higher altitudes, driven largely by their need for fresh water, which influences their daily activities, reproduction, and migration.
While elephant sightings may not be frequent in Zhemgang, the forestry officials plan to form active community response teams to disseminate the information.
The forest officials, after receiving the report from the locals, visited the location. They advise anyone who spots elephants to immediately report to the authorities. “We spent a day and night along the road to prevent encroachment into human settlements,” said the forestry official. “We have responded to incidents whenever we receive reports.”
The elephants roaming the vicinity have sparked fear among the villagers for their safety. “They have not encroached on the human settlement or attacked anyone, but residents are fearful of these giant animals being so close to their homes,” said Trong Mangmi Dorji Wangchuk.
The Mangmi added that the villagers who went mushroom collecting in the forest spotted the elephants. “Videos of the elephants and their dung, shared by PWD workers, are circulating in social media group chats, and the authorities have been informed accordingly,” he said. “The local leaders have alerted residents through the social media groups for their safety.”
The dzongkhag technical team restored the damaged water supply on April 14.