Ever wondered what we really do to our captive elephants? What is the real story behind those chains and shackles, those majestic caparisoned giants who stand with harnesses and ropes all over them, including on the most sensitive parts of their body?
It is common knowledge that many jumbos die a 'mystery' death in Kerala.
One of the most gruesome reasons is a process called 'ketti azhikkal', in which the elephants, just emerging from the months-long 'musth' period, when their testosterone levels shoot up by over 60%, are tortured.
Watch the video to see how we kill our captive elephants
Reports say that multiple mahouts or even goons join up, get drunk and torture the chained animal with rods, sticks and hooks.
In several cases, such elephants, tied and tortured ruthlessly, die. Others live a miserable life or die of tuberculosis, septicemia, infections, foot-and-mouth diseases and other medical reasons including digestive issues caused by impaction.
What is important is that we are still engaged in a feudal obsession with the pachyderm and we cannot give up the Rs 200-crore economy that revolves around them.
The animal, whose capture and transfer of ownership is regulated in the country, fetches a jackpot during festivals.
Reports say that elephants are leased for 99 years at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Depending upon the 'value,' judged on the grandeur of the animal, he could fetch anything between a few thousands to lakhs for a single day's work.
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