Description:
A 15-year-old pregnant elephant was killed in the southern Indian state of Kerala after
she was fed a pineapple stuffed with a firecracker on May 27, 2020.
The firecracker exploded in her mouth, causing severe injuries. In pain and
unable to eat, the elephant stood in a river for hours before she died. Investigators
are looking into reports that a local villager offered the fruit to the animal in
Silent Valley National Park.
Transcription:
This wild elephant in southern India was pregnant.
She was fed a pineapple stuffed with a firecracker that exploded in her mouth.
Samuel Pachuau: When the staff went to see, they say that the lower jaw portion
was exposed and the animal was not feeding. Because it was moving around.
Then, after some time the animal was lying down.
The whole day it was not feeding.The animal reportedly stood in a river for
hours after the blast. Wildlife officers tried to rescue her,
but she died on May 27. The death of the 15-year-old elephant sparked
anger online. Animal rights groups and Bollywood celebrities called for
stronger animal cruelty laws. "We strongly condemn this cruel act and strongly
urge the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
We should be protecting and cherishing our wild animals, not inflicting torture
on them like this.", Gajender K. Sharma. Villegers in the area often use
pineapples stuffed with firecrackers to hunt wild boars. A local wildlife
warden said they are investigating the incident as a 'serious crime'.
Questions:
1. Retell the incident happened in southern India in late May.
2. How did people react in the incident?
3. Why do villagers in the area use a pineapple stuffed with firecrackers?