At least 20 people have been killed by a wild elephant over nine days in Jharkhand, eastern India, with the animal still at large.

The attacks occurred mostly at night in the Chaibasa and Kolhan forest areas, part of one of Asia’s largest Sal forests, as residents guarded crops.

Officials said the elephant is young, highly mobile, and may be in a mating phase, which can trigger aggressive behavior, making it difficult to track.

A search involving over 100 forest personnel is underway, with warnings issued to residents to stay indoors and traditional drum alerts used to signal its presence, the BBC has reported.

Authorities emphasized capturing the elephant safely and returning it to the wild while offering compensation to victims’ families.