New Delhi: India cricket team skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday expressed his shock and anger after hearing about the gruesome death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala's Mallapuram, which took place after the animal ate cracker-stuffed pineapple allegedly given by a local.

Kohli said he was "appalled" to hear about the barbaric and cowardly act done by humans on the animal and appealed to treat animals with love, urging to stop violence against them.

"Appalled to hear about what happened in Kerala. Let's treat our animals with love and bring an end to these cowardly acts," he tweeted.

India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant also expressed his resentment too and demanded severe punishment for the perpertrators of the savagory act. "Heartbroken, speechless, angry & shocked to read the news about the pregnant elephant in Kerala. How can anyone be so cruel. Hope the guilty are punished severely," Pant tweeted.

The elephant succumbed to death on May 27 after she ate the pineapple stuffed with crackers and forest officials said that she died standing in river Velliyar after it suffered a major injury in its lower jaw.

The elephant was seen standing in the river with her mouth and trunk in the water for some relief from the pain after the fruit exploded in her mouth.

Mannarkkad forest range officer on Wednesday said that a FIR has been lodged against unidentified people under relevant sections of Wild Life Protection Act over the incident.