Horrifying!
The Kallar area of the Southern India region of Idukki, Kerela saw tragedy—or, perhaps, comeuppance—recently when a 62 year-old elephant trainer at an elephant safari park was stomped to death in an open field in full view of video cameras. The death-by-pachyderm happened in response to the trainer beating the elephant’s legs with a bamboo cane while issuing commands that the elephant was not inclined to follow.
The gorey video shows the assistant caretaker attempting to tether the elephant when the gigantic creature stomping on its trainer, then smashing his body, then grabbing him by the neck and with its trunk and slamming him into the ground. A second man is seen approaching as the 53 year-old elephant attempts to kick the trainer. The one ton Indian elephant wreaked havoc in repayment for the mistreatment she was receiving.
The trainer who was killed, M. Balakrishnan, was given an autopsy before his body was released to relatives.
Media reports suggest that, in response to the incident, local authorities have opened an investigation into the standards and practices of the elephant safari park. The Forest Department has filed a case against the illegal safari center and is “urgently” mandating the closure of the park. Local media also reports that the elephant belonged to one A H Jalaludin, who resides in Erumeli in the district of Kottayam. However, care of the animal was entrusted mainly to Kanjirapally resident P K Raveendra. The elephant was entrusted to the Kerala Farm in the Anaviratty taluk hamlet of Devikalum, where it was kept as part of the farm’s safari experience.
Closing the park, according to authorities, was imperative. The well-being and safety of the elephant depended on it, and it would preserve the scene for investigators to follow up and discover any potential violations of the rules and regulations laid out by the various levels of the Indian government with regards to elephant safaris.
