A joint rescue operation has been launched to capture Radio Collar-4, a wild male elephant whose constantly changing movement patterns have raised concerns over the possibility of human-elephant conflict in areas of Madhya Pradesh. Camp elephants were deployed on November 9, and the rescue operation formally began on November 11. Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Dr Anupam Sahay informed that approximately 20-year-old elephant originally belongs to Chhattisgarh. It was rescued and fitted with a radio collar on May 22, 2026, following repeated incidents of human casualties, livestock losses and crop damage in the Keshwahi forest range of South Shahdol Forest Division. It was subsequently released safely in the Bagdara Beat of the Khitauli Range in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on May 23. Initially, the elephant moved alone for nearly a month before joining a herd of 12 elephants on June 26. Between May 23 and September 14, it covered an average distance of 9.8 km daily, moving through forest areas of Khitauli, Dhamokhar, Kalwah, Magadhi, Umaria and Shahdol. Repeatedly swims across Bansagar Dam One of its most unusual behavioural patterns has been repeatedly swimming across the Son River at Bansagar Dam. On September 7, it swam from the Panpatha Buffer Zone to the Amarpatan Range of Maihar Forest Division, spending eight to ten hours in the water and resting briefly on an island.

 

After spending nearly 20 days in Maihar, it crossed the river again on the night of September 28-29, covering around nine kilometres in eight to nine hours. It returned to Bandhavgarh through North Shahdol and remained in the reserve for nearly a month. Around two weeks ago, it again crossed Bansagar Dam and moved into different beats of the Amarpatan Range, where it is currently being monitored. Multi-agency rescue operation Considering the presence of villages, livestock and agricultural land around its current movement area, forest authorities have initiated the rescue operation to minimise the risk of human-elephant conflict and ensure the wild animal’s safety.

 

The operation is being conducted under the direction of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dr Samita Rajora, with guidance from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Field Director Dr Anupam Sahay, Rewa Circle Conservator of Forests Anurag Kumar and Maihar Divisional Forest Officer Vidya Bhushan. Three elephants from Bandhavgarh - Gautam, Surya and Shyam - and Bapu from Sanjay Tiger Reserve have been deployed for the operation. Around 20 personnel from Bandhavgarh, 10 from Sanjay Tiger Reserve, 60 from Maihar Forest Division and 15 members from Mukundpur Zoo are participating in the joint effort. Wildlife veterinarians Dr Rajesh Tomar, Dr Nitin Gupta and Dr Abhay Sengar are also part of the team. The primary objective is to safely rescue the elephant while protecting local residents and reducing the possibility of human-elephant conflict.