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On May 27, a pregnant elephant died in Kerala, India, of excruciating pain after it bit into a pineapple filled with firecrackers. The explosives went off in her mouth, damaging her jaw grievously.

A spokesperson from the Kerala Forest Department told Sky News that farmers are known to put fireworks inside food and plant it on the edges of their fields to keep away wild animals.

The incident came to the public's attention when forest officer Mohan Krishnan, part of the team who attempted to rescue the animal, shared the story on Facebook.

Image credits: Mohan Krishnan

"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," Mr. Krishnan said.

Officials say the wild elephant probably wandered out of the Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) in search of food. It is believed to have reached the Malappuram District, where the animal allegedly bit into the fruit stuffed with firecrackers.

Image credits: Mohan Krishnan

Animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi said Malapurram is one of the most dangerous places for animals in the whole county. "It is a murder, Malappuram is famous such incidents, it is India's most violent district. For instance, they throw poison on roads so that 300-400 birds and dogs die at one time," she said, adding that an elephant is killed every 3 days in Kerala.

The elephant's tongue and mouth were so badly injured, she wasn't able to eat. "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," Mr. Krishnan added.

The elephant later got to the Velliyar River and stood there with her head partially underwater. The forest officer explained that two captive elephants were brought to lead her out of the river, but she wouldn't move. Eventually, she died while still standing in the water.

Officials took her back to the forest in a truck and cremated her there. So far, it isn't clear where exactly the animal got hurt.

Image credits: Mohan Krishnan

Local authorities have registered the case and initiated a probe into the killing of the 15-year-old elephant. Two organizations announced money rewards to anyone who can provide information that would lead to an arrest.

While the investigation is underway, people on social media have been paying tribute to the poor animal by sharing artworks they made to honor it.

Image credits: Sidharthraghav8

#1

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world._.photography0 Report

Eva Bryson
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why, in the name of God, must we kill something so precious?

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    #3

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    raibinesh974 Report

    fro_st puppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes thats what we all want to know. why would anyone do such a thing? that poor elephant

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    #5

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    uday.mohite.99 Report

    George-Florin Constantin
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agent Smith was right about humans. We are a plague upon the face of the planet.

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    #7

    Pregnant-Elephant-Dies-Eats-Pineapple-Filled-With-Firecrackers-Artists-Pay-Tribute

    karanacharya7 Report

    #8

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    Rabiul Islam Report

    SweetCrescentMoon
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At this point I think we deserve the covid 19. Just look at the horrible stuff we do...

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    #9

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    DharniaArvind Report

    A Lazy Spider
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poor poor elephant, how could anyone do such a thing? I hope her tears are now tears of joy that she’s not sharing a world with people like that. She didn’t deserve it

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    #14

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    TheReader19
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I cannot begin to comprehend how someone could even think of doing such an evil thing. What can possibly be happening in your life that you would destroy the lives of such beautiful creatures?

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    #15

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    satishacharya Report

    Paul Chang
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it when I go into the wilderness and not see anyone all day long

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    #17

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    sketchbook_.___ Report

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    SaeedNooree Report

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    #22

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    amolgudadhe Report

    Annabeth Chase
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're both in a much better place now. Humans are horrible.

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    #24

    Pregnant-Elephant-Dies-Eats-Pineapple-Filled-With-Firecrackers-Artists-Pay-Tribute

    mamothcreates Report

    #25

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    wirverreckenvorlachen Report

    Kat Khatib
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am bawling my eyes out. I can feel what this poor defenseless animal felt. Makes me sick.

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    #26

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    LazyPanda
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just can't believe that someone is even able to come up with an idea like this... How can anyone do something like this... I have no words

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    #27

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    shivani_pagare Report

    Christina Uhlir
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What you mean RIP Humanity? Burn in hell humanity.

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    #30

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    creative_meets_graphic Report

    veronica bingham
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The more l see of people the more l prefer the company of animals.!!!

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    #31

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    CHUA YEE HWEE
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is what the poor elephant thought:humans are so good! they gave free food to me and baby! she was pregnant and did not know there were fire crackers in the pineapple. It was not her fault. It was our fault. Rest in peace Momma elephant and baby

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    miss_matured Report

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    Christina Uhlir
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    .....yea, it's only for damn humans, till they completely destroy it, than they'll go to hell.

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    Molly Block
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Disgusted this happened. Probably some kids thinking it would be a "fun" prank. Maybe they didn't realize or mean to kill such a large magnificent creature. I'm just confused how how the firecrackers were set off, without a flame.

    CharliAnn Olney
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, not some kids. A grown man did this. "Protecting" his field. The OP also said the people in that town put poison on the roads to kill dogs, cats and birds.

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    Leslie K Von Dell
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judges by the way it treats its animals. " Mahatma Gandhi. That should read the greatness of humanity and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats the worlds animals. Shame on us.

    Wolfgang Fleißner
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Es ist entsätzlich, was manche Menschen denken. Gute Reise ihr Lieben. Eure Engel werden euch begleiten und zu Hause herzlich willkommen heißen.

    Jovy Jergens
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the kind of thing that makes people hate other people. Deliberate cruelty is a toxic force. This story broke my heart and made me EVEN MORE CYNICAL toward other humans. Truly we are evil!

    texaseve
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The perpetrators should be beaten publicly!

    Alexandra Wood
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No matter the crime, no one should be beaten. People will disagree with me on this point, but if we beat each other, humans will become worse. You say to beat them now, but if you have a heart, when it happened you would be upset. Animals are amazing, and none of them should be dying, and even if humanity is at fault, humans should not kill or beat each other for any purpose. That was a past mistake of humanity, so don't repeat it.

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    Wong Kt
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    媽媽 我們還可以相信他們嗎 孩子 走吧 媽媽帶你去一個更美好更有愛的地方 媽媽 我們要去哪裏 孩子 我們去天堂好不 那裏沒有壞人 In memory of the pregnant #elephant killed in #kerala by being feda pineapple stuffed with a firecracker. © 梅可 愛繪本 作品 find me on email: wongkt.lenzo@gmail.com www.facebook.com/MeiKeAiHuiBen 101200975_...94a62b.jpg 101200975_3118480591547288_2477617490323046400_o-5ed8cb394a62b.jpg

    aestheticaly_angelic
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i hate being a human. this stupid ************ did a crappy thing. i hope he dies a death of eating a pineapple stuffed with firecrackers. and died a SUPER slow and SUPER painful death. oh yeah, kill his kid too. sick ****. sorry but like bro go die in a hole

    marshmellow hair
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    Lana Jig-maker
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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