Pregnant Elephant May Have Eaten Cracker-Filled Fruit By Mistake: Centre

Primary investigations into the death of pregnant elephant in Kerala has found that it may have accidentally consumed a cracker-stuffed fruit, the Environment Ministry said on Monday.

The ministry also noted that many times locals resort to an illegal act of planting explosive-filled fruits to repel wild boars from entering plantation farms.

The 15-year-old elephant consumed a pineapple filled with powerful fire crackers which exploded in its mouth in the Silent Valley forest. She died in the Velliyar River a week later on May 27.

In a series of tweets, the ministry has said that one person has been arrested in the matter.

"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 said.

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

— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) June 6, 2020

It also tweeted that the Minster of State for Environment Babul Supriyo has requested people not to believe in social media "rumours".

In the meantime, MoS, MoEF&CC, Shri @SuPriyoBabul requests everyone to not indulge or fall prey to in any of the rumours & fake news that are being circulated in the #SocialMedia. #ElephantProtection

— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) June 6, 2020

The Ministry on Sunday also held a meeting with several officials to discuss the progress in the matter.

The review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sanjay Kumar, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the ministry (DGF&SS) to discuss the progress on the action taken in the case.

Besides DGF&SS, the meeting was attended by an official from National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA), Inspector General of Wildlife, ministry of environment, additional director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and scientists from Elephant Cell, an official told PTI.

The details of the meeting are still awaited.