“A wild elephant rampaged through an east Indian town on Wednesday, smashing cars and homes and sending panicked people running before the animal was tranquilized to be returned to the forest. As the frightened elephant ran amok, trampling parked cars and motorbikes, crowds of people gathered to watch from balconies and roof tops. Some followed from a distance as the elephant moved through the streets. The elephant had wandered from the Baikunthapur forest, crossing roads and a small river before entering the town of Siliguri in West Bengal state. Divisional Forest Officer Basab Rai said the female elephant appeared to be a loner without a herd, and was likely searching for food when it strayed into the town. He said it did not attack any people, and appeared to be afraid of them. After several hours, it became clear the elephant was unable to find its way back to the forest. Authorities eventually shot the elephant three times with a tranquilizer gun and used a crane to lift it into a truck once it had calmed down. It was then taken to a park for domesticated pachyderms that is maintained by the forest department. Once the effect of the tranquilizer wore off, authorities planned to return the elephant to the forest. Elephants are increasingly coming into contact with people in India, as the human population of 1.25 billion soars and cities and towns grow at the expense of jungles and other elephant habitats”. – Manik Banerjee via The Associated Press



People run as they follow a wild elephant that strayed into the town of Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The elephant had wandered from the Baikunthapur forest on Wednesday, crossing roads and a small river before entering the town. The panicked elephant ran amok, trampling parked cars and motorbikes before it was tranquilized. (Photo by AP Photo)





A wild elephant that strayed into the town moves through the streets as people run at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The elephant had wandered from the Baikunthapur forest on Wednesday, crossing roads and a small river before entering the town. The panicked elephant ran amok, trampling parked cars and motorbikes before it was tranquilized. (Photo by AP Photo)





People watch from a rooftop as a wild elephant runs after it was tranquilized in Siliguri, India, February 10, 2016. According to local media reports, the elephant went on rampage in Siliguri after entering from a nearby Baikunthapur forest on Wednesday. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)





A wild elephant that strayed into the town moves through the streets as people follow at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. (Photo by AP Photo)





A wild elephant that strayed into the town stands after authorities shot it with a tranquilizer gun at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. (Photo by AP Photo)





A wild elephant that strayed into the town stands after authorities shot it with a tranquilizer gun as people gather to watch at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. (Photo by AP Photo)





Indian bystanders watch a wild elephant walk through a busy street in Siliguri on February 10, 2016. The adult male elephant was tranquilised and captured by wildlife officials and transported to a nearby forest. (Photo by Diptendu Dutta/AFP Photo)





A wild elephant that strayed into the town stands after authorities shot it with a tranquilizer gun at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. (Photo by AP Photo)





Indian bystanders watch as a wild elephant walks along a busy street in Siliguri on February 10, 2016. (Photo by Diptendu Dutta/AFP Photo)





A forest official shoots a tranquilizer dart at a wild elephant in a street in Siliguri, India, February 10, 2016. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)





A wild elephant is loaded onto a truck after it was tranquilized in Siliguri, India, February 10, 2016. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)





Authorities use a crane to remove a wild elephant that strayed into the town after tranquilizing it at Siliguri in West Bengal state, India, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. (Photo by AP Photo)