Two government-owned patrol elephants, Kapila and Tunga, have reportedly gone missing from Uttarakhand’s Corbett landscape after leaving with a herd of wild elephants, prompting forest officials to launch a search operation. The unusual incident has attracted widespread attention, with many people online expressing curiosity and hoping for the elephants’ safe return.
According to a report by News18, the two female elephants had been engaged in regular forest patrol duties in and around Jim Corbett National Park before they disappeared several days ago. Forest authorities discovered that the elephants were missing from their camp and have since been conducting continuous efforts to locate them.
Officials believe that Kapila and Tunga may have moved away during the night while accompanying a herd of wild elephants that was passing through the region. Both elephants are trained kumkis—domesticated elephants employed by the forest department for patrolling, rescue operations, and various wildlife management activities. Prior to their disappearance, they were actively involved in monitoring and protection work across the Corbett landscape.
Interestingly, forest officials noted that this type of incident is not entirely uncommon. As mentioned in the News18 report, there have been previous cases where trained female elephants temporarily wandered away after interacting with wild elephant herds. In several such instances, the elephants eventually returned to their designated camps after spending a few days in the wild.
For the time being, forest authorities continue to monitor the area and search for Kapila and Tunga, while remaining hopeful that the pair will safely return. The unusual episode has also sparked numerous reactions on social media, where many users humorously commented on the patrol elephants “choosing the wild side,” while others expressed concern and wished for their safe return.
