Temple mutt elephant tramples mahout in India

© Deccan Chronicle

Elephant Maloloan that trampled 21-year-old Ganesan

An elephant reared in a temple mutt at Tambaram on Wednesday trampled its mahout. The 21-year-old animal keeper, who joined as the assistant mahout early this month, died at a private hospital."He is 18 years old and had always been an obedient animal. The untoward incident was an accidental reflex action after victim R. Ganesan stepped on the foot of jumbo, while making an attempt to chain the pachyderm. The elephant misjudged Ganesan as some strange object and kicked him", explained eyewitness M. Sivarajan, mahout of Malolan.

"Ganesan joined us recently for a salary of Rs10,000 and was performing as Kaavadi (assistant to mahout). He was taking back the jumbo to its enclosure after the routine morning prayers, "Sivarajan added.Meanwhile, forest department has begun investigations on the animal behaviour and dispatched its Vandalur zoo veterinarian Thirumurugan.

"The animal is healthy and obedient, but the cause of its behaviour is yet to be ascertained. Anti stress prescriptions have been advised for the elephant and it is free from musth", the veterinarian said.

According to Ahobila mutt sources the pachyderm was bought in 2002 from Kerala. This is the first rude behaviour and the animal is usually confined to in-house temple rituals.

Selaiyur police has registered a case of unnatural death and the body sent for postmortem.

"Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had been campaigning for the ban on elephants at all religious places. And it's time we understood the consequences of domesticating a wild animal," said animal behaviorist F.M. Jerold, animal welfare officer, AWBI.