Elephant tramples owner to death after charging into house
CCTV shows villagers fleeing for their lives.
The owner of an elephant has been trampled to death after the animal charged into a house.
The elephant attacked the village of Kattikkulam, Kerala, in India, on Saturday, and CCTV shows terrified villagers fleeing for their lives and seeking refuge in a gated home.
But the elephant broke through and trampled owner Ajeesh, 46, to death after he stumbled while trying to escape the four-tonne animal.
He was carried away from the scene by residents and was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
The elephant had been transferred from Karnataka to the Bengur Forest Range before the attack.
The government has urged people not to attack elephants in retaliation and said they would meet to address the issue.
Ajeesh was the lone breadwinner for his family and the government have agreed to provide a job for his wife and give them 1,000,000 INR (£9,529.85) compensation.
Forests and Wildlife Minister AK Saseendran said: ‘The safety of both the residents and the wildlife must be prioritised, and a comprehensive plan of action should be devised to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.’
Ajeesh is the fifth person injured in human-animal-related conflicts in five weeks in Kerala.
Habitat loss is on the rise for elephants in India because of issues like deforestation, farming, roads and mining.
Elephants raid crops for food and as a result come into direct conflict with humans who are trying to protect the fields and their homes.
The government has responded by trying measures like compensation schemes for farmers, electric and solar fence installations, and alternative water sources away from villages.
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