Not pineapple, pregnant elephant ate cracker stuffed coconut: Report

New Delhi : Days after the tragic death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala's Palakkad district, Mannarkkad Divisional Forest Officer Sunil Kumar told NDTV that the animal had consumed a coconut stuffed with firecrackers. This comes hours after the first arrest was made in the matter.

The arrested man was taken to the place where they used to prepare fruits stuffed with crackers.

"As part of the probe and evidence collection, the arrested person was taken to the plantation shed where he would help two others in making the crackers," Forest officer Aashique Ali U said.

According to the man, these explosives are often stuffed in fruits or animal fat by locals as traps to scare away wild animals like boars, in a bid to protect their produce.

The elephant had apparently consumed the explosive-laden coconut that left her mouth injured, making her unable to eat and drink anything.

The elephant walked for days with the severe mouth injuries, before wading into a river and dipping its trunk, as if for relief from the agony. It died standing in the river Velliyar in Palakkad.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has promised that justice will prevail.

The probe is currently underway.