Wild elephants kill two children in Bangladesh

Dhaka, June 24: Wild elephants trampled to death brothers aged 5 and 7 in their home, and destroyed 10 bamboo houses when they strayed into a Bangladesh village, officials said today.

The herd of elephants also uprooted trees and damaged crops last night at Panihata village, in Tangail district town, 100 km (60 miles) north of the capital Dhaka.

At least 15 people are killed by elephants in Bangladesh each year as their forest habitats shrink due to encroachment by the rising human population, forest officials say.

One of the world's most densely populated nations, Bangladesh has forest cover of only 17.5 percent. There are around 400 elephants in the country, including 300 in the wild.

REUTERS >