Cruel death of pregnant elephant sparks outrage in India

Animal died in the southern state of Kerala after eating an explosives-rigged fruit

Policemen and onlookers standing on the banks of the Velliyar River in Palakkad district of Kerala state as the body of a dead pregnant elephant is pulled out. The animal died from injuries caused when locals fed it a pineapple filled with firecrackers. AFP

People pull a pregnant elephant out of the water, which died after eating a firecracker-stuffed fruit, in Palakkad district, India. REUTERS

People pull a pregnant elephant out of the water, which died after eating a firecracker-stuffed fruit, in Palakkad district, India. REUTERS

A pregnant elephant, which died after eating a firecracker-stuffed fruit, floats in the water in Palakkad district, India. REUTERS

The death of pregnant elephant in southern India after eating a fruit stuffed with explosives has sparked outrage over the use of such devices to protect crops and homes.

The wild elephant strayed into a village near Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad district of Kerala state last week when it ate the rigged fruit, which exploded and severely injured its mouth, officials said.

Villagers in the region often use firecracker or explosive-filled pineapples – which act like pressure-activated land mines – to protect their fields from wild animals.

"We are investigating the nature of the explosive and as well as the food fed to her," said Kerala's chief wildlife warden, Surendra Kumar. He said local police were involved in the probe.

The incident drew outrage on social media after a forest officer, Mohan Krishnan, posted an apology to the elephant online on May 30.

"Sorry sister," Mr Krishnan, who witnessed the elephant's death, wrote on Facebook.

"She didn't harm a single human being even when she ran in searing pain in the streets of the village.  She didn't crush a single home. This is why I said, she is full of goodness," he said.

"With her mouth and tongue destroyed in the explosion, she paced around hungry without being able to eat. She must have been more worried about the health of the child inside her than about her own hunger."

Photos of the elephant shared on social media showed it standing in a river after the incident, dunking its mouth and trunk in the water hours before she died.

Two captive elephants were brought to lead it out of the river, said Mr Krishnan, who led the rescue team.

"Mr Kumar said those responsible for the elephant's death could face animal cruelty charges that carry fines or a jail term.

A similar incident took place last month when another female elephant was found with serious mouth injures in a nearby district, he said. The animal later died of its injuries.

India has lost vast territories of forest to urbanisation in recent decades, forcing animals closer to human settlements and resulting in an increasing number of encounters.

Government records show that 2,361 people were killed in attacks by elephants between 2014 and 2019.  There were 510 elephant deaths in the same period, including 333 from electrocution and about 100 from poaching and poisoning.