Tusker, chased and attacked using earthmover, dies

A wild elephant that entered a factory premises in Munnar, Kerala, was chased and attacked using an earthmover, leading to its death.

The tusker, Chillikkompan, as the local people affectionately call him for the shape of his tusks, entered the Kannan Devan Hill Plantations (KDHP) premises in Chenduvara, Munnar, on July 24. Enraged factory officials allegedly deputed some men with an earthmover to chase the animal away. The tusker tried to escape but was hammered on the tusk and head by a metal carrier.

The elephant stationed himself some 100 metres from the premises where it died on Tuesday, a day after it was injured.

Munnar is an ecologically sensitive area where man-animal conflicts are common. But the way a young tusker met its gory death has enraged wildlife enthusiasts and local people.

“There are several ways to chase an animal away. Elephants easily go away on bursting crackers or such noises. This was a deliberate act to kill him,” says Mohan Kumar, founder president, Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS).

Sebinster Francis, a wildlife photographer and naturalist based in Munnar, involved with elephant projects, says he knew Chillikkompan for years. “It’s like losing a family member... Such a brutal end to a wonderful animal is unacceptable,” said Sebinster, who is also treasurer of NGO, Zest for Environment.

After a video of the incident was circulated through social media, forest department swung into action. “A criminal case has been filed against the factory and the driver of the earthmover has been arrested. We will probe and take action against other people involved in it too,” said KJ Varughese, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) & chief wildlife warden, Kerala.