Rare Stegodon Elephant Fossils Unearthed in Chandrapur: A Major Paleontological Discovery in Maharashtra
Rare stegodon elephant fossils, dating back 25,000 years, have been discovered in Chandrapur. This discovery offers valuable insights into Vidarbha’s prehistoric wildlife, unlocking secrets of ancient species and their existence.
Pune, April 19, 2025 – In a significant paleontological breakthrough, rare fossils believed to belong to the extinct stegodon elephant species have been discovered in the Wardha River basin of Chandrapur district.
The find has been made by Professor Suresh Chopane, a geologist from the University of Maharashtra, who claims that these fossils are among the rarest unearthed in the state from the Pleistocene period.
According to Professor Chopane, the fossils date back to a period between 25,000 and 12,000 years ago, when the stegodon elephant is believed to have migrated and lived in the Vidarbha region.
These elephants, considered ancient ancestors of modern Asian elephants, are now extinct. The fossils, including distinctive teeth, strongly indicate the presence of the stegodon species in this area thousands of years ago.
Foreign researchers, including retired professor Avinash Nanda of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, have supported the findings, noting that the species vanished approximately 23,000 to 26,000 years ago.
Interestingly, remains of what appears to be a skull structure resembling that of the extinct Elephas namadicus were also found at the same site.
Professor Chopane has emphasized the need for further scientific analysis and study to understand the full significance of the discovery. The fossils were found during an extensive survey carried out along the Wardha River during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Varora taluka, where fossil-like remains of giant elephants were first spotted between 2021 and 2022.
The research and documentation phase of this discovery concluded in the 2024–25 period, opening the door for further academic and archaeological exploration in the region.
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