A 15-year old pregnant elephant has been killed in Kerala, India after consuming an ‘explosive’ pineapple according to local authorities.
According to details, the incident occurred on 27th May, when a 15-year old female elephant consumed what seems to be a pineapple stuffed with fire crackers or some other explosive material.
The elephant is reported to have suffered serious injuries who then died standing in Kerala’s Velliyar river.
“Based on the nature of its wound, we are assuming that it died due to explosives. We are suspecting that the elephant fell prey to the explosive snare used to fend off wild boars,” said KK Sunil Kumar – Mannarkkad Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).
Pinarayi Vijayan – Kerala Chief Minister, has promised strict action against those responsible for this heinous incident, meanwhile an FIR has been lodged against unidentified people under relevant sections of Wild Life Protection Act over the incident.
The incident has sparked public outcry in India, various celebrities and prominent figures have took to social media condemning the killing and demanding the people responsible to be held accountable and brought to justice.
An online petition has been launched on Change.org seeking criminal charges against the accused. So far, the petition has garnered nearly 400,000 signatures out of the targeted 500,000.