Main image via Mohan Krishnan / Facebook
Elephants are often considered as friendly animals but an elephant has recently died after it was harmed by human hands.
Many people were heartbroken after reading a viral post on Facebook that detailed how a pregnant elephant died a tragic death at the hands of villagers in Kerala, India after they fed her with a pineapple that was filled with firecrackers.
The post was written by a forest officer in Malappuram who explained how the elephant had wandered into a village and was harmlessly looking for food, but was fed with the firecracker-filled pineapple by the villagers she “trusted”.
"She trusted everyone. When the pineapple she ate exploded, she must have been shocked not thinking about herself, but about the child she was going to give birth to in 18 to 20 months," said forest officer Mohan Krishnan.
Mohan was part of the Rapid Response Team that was trying to save the elephant, but was unfortunately unable to rescue the injured pregnant elephant.
The firecrackers injured her mouth and tongue and she was unable to eat anything due to the injuries. But despite suffering through the immense pain, the elephant did nothing to harm the humans that harmed her.
"She didn't harm a single human being even when she ran in searing pain in the streets of the village. She didn't crush a single home. This is why I said, she is full of goodness," Mohan wrote.
The elephant died standing still in the river in what is believed to be her attempt to soothe the pain by putting her mouth and trunk in the water.
The rescue team tried to lead the elephant out of the river to treat her injuries with the help of two captive elephants, but the elephant refused to move and died hours later, with the baby elephant that was never born.
"I think she had a sixth sense. She didn't let us do anything," Mohan added.
The tragic elephant was brought back to the forest where she “played and grew up” in and placed on a firewood that cremated her.
"The doctor who did her post-mortem told me that she was not alone. I could sense his sadness though the expression on his face was not visible due to his mask. We cremated her in a pyre there. We bowed before her and paid our last respects."
Netizens are heartbroken over the tragic incident, with many enraged at how cruel the people that injured the elephant could be.
Humans around the world need to be better at protecting the lives of wild animals. We hope the elephant rest’s in peace and that humanity does better.
Info via Mothership