Dylan Potgieter

Osama bin Laden was a rogue bull elephant active in the Indian state of Assam, in the vicinity of Behali, near Tezpur. The state capital, Guwahati, is 240 kilometres (150 mi) southwest of Behali.[1] The province has an estimated population of 5,300 Asiatic elephants.[1] The elephant was mockingly named after the terrorist Osama bin Laden.[2][3] At the time of the attacks, the elephant was thought to be between 45 and 50 years old.[4] He measured between 2.7 and 3.0 metres (9 and 10 ft) tall.[4][5] He was given the status of a "rogue" elephant in the summer of 2006 after his death toll reached double-digit figures.[2] The elephant was said not to fear firecrackers or fire.[5] During his attacks, he killed 27 people in the state of Assam,[4] including 14 during the six months preceding his death.[A][2][6] In northeastern India, human and elephant conflicts have become problematic. Expansion of human activities and destruction of elephants' natural habitat has resulted in elephants foraging for food where humans are situated.[B] From 2001 to 2006 in Assam, more than 250 people were killed by elephants; distraught villagers killed 268 elephants, mainly by poisoning.[1]