Two Adult Tuskers ME3 and MHE-02 Spotted Together in Gadchiroli

Two adult male elephants, ME3 and MHE-02, were spotted together in Gadchiroli on September 7, 2026. The sighting marks the first documented encounter of both tuskers together since ME3 originally crossed into Maharashtra.

The development follows several months during which MHE-02, identified as the former herd tusker, had been observed moving around the Gadchiroli area on its own.

ME3, who is also recorded as MHE-01, first arrived in Maharashtra in 2024 accompanied by an unidentified tusker. During that movement, ME3 ranged as far as the Pangdi area within the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve before making its way back to Gadchiroli.

While the unidentified tusker that travelled with ME3 eventually crossed back into neighbouring Chhattisgarh, ME3 stayed behind in Maharashtra to remain with the herd.