Pregnant elephant may have eaten cracker-filled fruit by accident: Environment Ministry

Kerala : The pregnant elephant who died last month in Kerala's Palakkad may had eaten the cracker-filled fruit by accident, said the Union Ministry of Environment.

The 15-year-old elephant died after chewing on a pineapple stuffed with crackers, according to initial reports, but later an autopsy conducted on her found it was a coconut, and the injuries she suffered were at least two weeks old.

“Primary investigations revealed, the elephant may have accidentally consumed in such fruit. Ministry is in constant touch with Kerala Govt & has sent them detailed advisory for immediate arrest of culprits & stringent action against any erring official that led to elephant’s death,” the ministry has said.

One person has been arrested in the matter and he said that locals plant explosive-filled fruits to repel wild boars from entering plantation farms.

“As of now, one person has been arrested & efforts are on to nab more individuals who may have participated in this illegal & utterly inhuman act. The @WCCBHQ has also been directed to act on this matter with utmost sense of urgency,” the ministry posted.

“We are confident of concluding the investigation sooner than later, to be followed by exemplary #LegalActions & punishment that will act as strong deterrent to committing such future acts,” it said.