The death of an elephant in Kerala’s Palakkad district has enraged citizens across the country. Preliminary reports suggested that the wild female elephant ate a pineapple stuffed with firecrackers which exploded in her mouth. This rendered her incapable to eat or drink anything.
Experiencing insufferable pain, the pregnant wild elephant stood for a whole day in the Velliyar river area in Palakkad district before collapsing to her death on May 27.
Ever since a forest ranger posted pictures of the elephant and other officials claimed to have narrated her ordeal, the incident has sparked a new debate about animal cruelty in India. While some aspects of the animal’s unfortunate demise have been cleared up by concerned departments of the Kerala administration, other details about what led to the incident are still unclear.
The Kerala Forest Department has registered a case under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the state police have registered another case under Explosives Act, 1884, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. A joint probe team led by Mannarkkad forest divisional officer and DSP, Shoranur, would investigate the case.
