Rising Heat, Rising Tensions: Man-Animal Conflict in Kerala
Muralikrishnan, a domesticated male elephant, lies injured after falling off a lorry in Kumbalam, a town just 10 kilometers from Kochi, Kerala, on March 30, 2007. Tensions escalated moments later when the elephant was bitten on the ear by his chief mahout for failing to obey commands. As temperatures soar, Kerala is witnessing a disturbing surge in attacks by distressed elephants—over 30 mahouts have died from such incidents since January alone. Despite strict regulations to prevent cruelty toward captive elephants, violations by mahouts and elephant owners remain rampant.