Key Takeaways:

• Dhrube fitted with GPS collar and tusks trimmed
• Linked to 25 human deaths since 2010
• Operation conducted by Nepal Army, NTNC, and park officials

​​CHITWAN, JULY 16 Chitwan National Park has fitted a satellite GPS radio collar to the notorious wild elephant 'Dhrube', linked to 25 human deaths in and around the park. The operation was carried out at around 10 pm Wednesday after the elephant was tranquillised with a dart. Officials also trimmed its tusks before releasing it back into the wild. Information Officer Avinash Thapa Magar said the GPS-enabled collar will allow real-time tracking, enabling authorities to issue warnings and respond quickly when the elephant approaches human settlements. The operation was conducted by a joint team comprising personnel from the Nepal Army's New Gorakh Battalion, park technicians, and experts from the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). The park intensified efforts to locate Dhrube after the elephant killed 21-year-old Ashika Bote and her four-year-old son Bharat Bote in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-23 on July 4. Officials said prolonged rainfall and dense vegetation delayed the operation. Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun said Dhrube was darted about 200 metres east of the Sukhibhar post after remaining outside monitoring systems since July 5. Park records show Dhrube has been responsible for 25 human deaths since 2010, making it the most lethal elephant in Chitwan's history. A district-level decision in 2013 had ordered the elephant killed after a series of fatal attacks, but it was never captured or executed. Authorities have urged residents near forest areas to remain vigilant, follow safety advisories, and immediately inform officials if the elephant is spotted.