New Delhi: Mallapuram, the Kerala district which recently came to light amid the killing of a pregnant elephant in an utterly inhuman manner by feeding it a cracker-stuffed fruit, has had a record not quite favourable for wildlife. The place is notorious for human perpetrated assault against animals and the murder of the pregnant elephant isn’t the only or the first such case. Several incidents, particularly against elephants have been reported from Kerala. Also Read:  Centre Takes 'Very Serious Note' Of Pregnant Elephant's Murder In Kerala; Javadekar Says 'Feeding Fire Crackers To Kill Not In Our Culture'


While speaking to news agency ANI, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi elaborated that incidents of elephanticide are rampant in Kerala. She also said that in Mallapuram particularly, people have launched several brutal hunts against animals.

In Mallapuram, they not only kill elephants, some panchayats spill poison, killing thousands of animals at once, said Gandhi. Not only wild animals, they also kill birds and dogs. Also Check: 'Trusting Humans Was Her Only Fault', Manhunt Launched Against Perpetrators Of Killed Pregnant Elephant In Kerala

“Scuffles are reported on a daily basis , people beat up women.. communal clashes are violent.. but it seems Kerala government is scared if Mallapuram, because despite so many atrocities, no action is ever taken,” she said fuming over the death of the elephant.

As per Gandhi, every year 600 elephants are slaughtered in Kerala, which means every third day an elephant dies. People resort to ill practices like taking insurance in the name of elephants they own and then drilling rusted nails inside their bodies so that they die of 'gangrene', in a bid to claim the insurance amount .At times, they are tied in heavy chains and are drowned in water.

Watch: Maneka Gandhi attacks Rahul Gandhi over elephant's death



The murder of the elephant triggered social media fury, with celebrities and political leaders  and sportspersons condemning the incident in one voice.

The 15-year-old pregnant elephant succumbed to an act of human cruelty after a pineapple filled with powerful crackers offered allegedly by locals exploded in her mouth. She stayed inside water for around two to three days as she wasn’t able to eat after the explosion injured her jaws. The elephant died at Velliyar River on May 27. It came to light after the section forest officer Mohan Krishnan, part of the Rapid Response Team in northern Kerala's Malappuram district, went to rescue the pregnant elephant and realized how severely she suffered.
Meanwhile, the Centre has taken a very serious note on the incident and an investigation will be undertaken to find out the culprits behind the incident, union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Thursday. He also said that this is not an Indian culture to feed fire crackers and kill.