Elephants Injure Dozens at Kerala Festival in India

INIndia|

A stampede during the annual Puthiyangadi festival in Kerala, India, resulted in at least 23 injuries, with one person in critical condition. The incident occurred when an elephant, part of a parade featuring five adorned elephants, broke free from its handler and charged into a crowd of festival-goers. Video footage captured the chaos, showing attendees screaming and fleeing as the elephant grabbed one individual and violently shook him before tossing him aside.

While the handler eventually regained control of the elephant, the rapid escalation led to a significant number of injuries. The critically injured person is currently receiving treatment in a local hospital, though it remains unclear if they were the individual who was thrown.

This incident marks the second recent event involving elephants in India, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of elephants in captivity and their interactions with humans during cultural festivities. According to a 2023 report by Wildlife SOS, India hosts approximately 25,000 to 30,000 Asian elephants in the wild, with around 2,700 living in captivity.

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