A Name, a Trail of Destruction
Between 2004 and 2006, an elephant in India’s Assam state left a trail of death and destruction so extensive that villagers began calling it Osama bin Laden. Active near Behali in the Sonitpur district, the rogue bull elephant was held responsible for at least 27 human deaths and numerous instances of property damage.
Despite regional efforts to scare him off with fire or noise, the elephant showed no signs of fear and continued to raid villages for food, undeterred by firecrackers or torches.
Declared Rogue and Hunted
The elephant, believed to be between 45 and 50 years old and standing 2.7 to 3.4 meters tall (9 to 11 feet), was declared rogue in 2006 after the death toll passed into double digits. As conflict between humans and elephants escalated across Assam due to shrinking habitat and growing agriculture, state authorities issued a shoot-to-kill order in December 2006.
On December 18, the elephant was cornered at a tea plantation near Behali after villagers used fire and drums to trap him. Hunter Dipen Ram Phookun shot the animal as it charged at him. The elephant, identified by the absence of tusks, was declared to be the rogue named Osama bin Laden.
Doubts and Controversy
Questions soon arose about whether the correct elephant had been killed. The location of the death—80 kilometers (50 miles) from the last known sighting—sparked concerns. Officials faced criticism, and some conservationists warned of possible retaliatory behavior from other elephants in the herd.
With at least 250 people killed by elephants in Assam between 2001 and 2006 and 268 elephants killed in return, the incident highlighted ongoing tensions in the region between rural communities and displaced wildlife.
Others That Followed
The name “Osama bin Laden” became a label for aggressive elephants in the region. In 2008, another elephant with that name was killed in Jharkhand after causing over 11 deaths and numerous injuries. In 2019, a tuskless elephant nicknamed “Laden” was captured after it killed five people and died in captivity.
The use of the name reflected how villagers began associating the animals with terror, especially after 2001. Each case further complicated the challenge of balancing conservation with human safety in northeastern India.
Between 2004 and 2006, villagers in Assam, India, lived in fear of a rogue elephant they named Osama bin Laden.
Blamed for 27 deaths and countless raids, the tuskless bull ignored firecrackers and torches, striking terror across Sonitpur district and destroying homes…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/dyn7j9piB7
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) June 11, 2025