Malappuram: A man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala, a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said three suspects have been identified.
Wilson, a native of Malappuram has been arrested today, who does cultivation in the Ambalappara forest area.
The outrage among people was witnessed on social media and many from all walks of life had condemned the act against the pregnant elephant.
The wild elephant wandered into a village near Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad last month and suspected to have eaten a pineapple stuffed with firecrackers. It exploded in the elephant’s mouth, causing severe injuries to tongue and mouth. Before dying, it went into a river and died standing on May 27.
Villagers in the region often make use of firecrackers or explosives stuffed in fruits to shoo away wild animals like boar to protect their fields. The elephant is believed to have accidentally fallen into this trap.
The natives allege that the forest department did not take necessary steps to save the elephant despite the injured elephant was roaming around in the forest area.