Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Elephant collapses on road, torture alleged

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, JULY 22. A 68-year-old captive elephant, Renju, attached to the Elephant Camp of the Forest Department at Konni, collapsed on the Konni-Adoor Road this afternoon, allegedly owing to lack of proper care by the authorities and physical torture by mahouts.

The elephant was reportedly taken out for a bath in the nearby Achencoil River by a new mahout in the morning. The animal collapsed while returning to the camp in the afternoon.

The doctors from the Government Veterinary Hospital at Konni rushed to the spot and administered glucose fluid to the animal. It was brought back to the camp by 6 p.m.

Vehicular traffic on the Konni-Adoor Road was disrupted for about two-and-a-half hours following the incident.

There were allegations of torture of elephants at the camp by the mahouts with the connivance of certain Forest personnel.

The Elephant Protection Council general secretary, Salim P. Chacko, and the Konni Development Society leaders, Jagish Babu and Vinod Elakolloor, condemned the incident and demanded a detailed inquiry.

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