One more elephant is believed to be killed in similar fashion in Kerala

There has always been a serious conflict between humans and animals. Animals are voiceless creatures and all they want is a peaceful life but these humans have destroyed habitats of animals leading to extinction.

At one end, man is reaping benefits with the technology, natural resources– and at the other end- he is destroying the environment and other life forms which is truly not acceptable at all.

In yet another heart-wrenching incident, A young female elephant in Kollam district died of injuries in her mouth a month ago, news agency PTI reported. Earlier, a pregnant elephant was killed in Kerala’s Malappuram after she was fed a pineapple laced with hidden firecrackers by locals last week. The elephant was in intense pain that she died standing in a river.

News agency PTI quoted a top forest officer as saying that another female elephant had met with a similar fate in April in Pathanapuram forest range area under Punalur division in Kollam district, Kerala.

According to a top forest officer, the official of the forest department had found a female elephant in a serious condition from the fringe areas of the forests in Pathanapuram. “The pachyderm was found alienated from the herd of elephants. Its jaw was broken and it was unable to eat,” the senior officer told PTI.

“It was very weak. When the forest officials approached, the elephant ran into the forest and joined the herd of elephants waiting there. But the next day, the elephant was again found alienated from its herd. Proper treatment was given but unfortunately, it succumbed to its wounds,” he said.

However, the investigation has been launched into the incident and the cause of death is yet to be ascertained, another official said. 

“It is suspected that the elephant bit a food item filled with crackers and it exploded in her mouth. We are waiting for the postmortem report,” the officer, who did not wish to be identified, said.

On May 27, a pregnant elephant lost her life after the elephant entered the village area in search of food but some locals fed her a pineapple in which they had explosives.

As the elephant ate pineapple, the firecracker burst in her mouth and led to immeasurable pain. Owing to her painful mouth injury, the pregnant elephant roamed around hungry but unfortunately couldn’t eat anything. Even in extreme pain of mind and body, the poor elephant did not hurt a single person or damage any public property.

As reported by news agency ANI, Mannarkkad forest range officer stated that an FIR under relevant sections of the Wild Life Protection Act has been registered.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.