In a tragic incident on June 20, 2024, a mahout was allegedly trampled to death by an elephant in Kerala. The incident occurred at Kerala Farm, a private safari centre in Kallar, near Adimaly. The victim, 62-year-old Balakrishnan from Neeleswaram, was attacked while attempting to reposition the elephant for a tourist ride.
A video of the event, which has gone viral on social media, shows the elephant violently trampling Balakrishnan. According to reports, the mahout was the second in line to take tourists on a safari when the incident occurred. The tourists escaped unharmed, and Balakrishnan’s body was handed over to his relatives after a post-mortem examination.
Following the incident, the Forest Department filed a case against the illegal safari centre and ordered the relocation of the elephant to Kottayam, where it is registered under the Forest Department. Officials reported that the elephants at the centre were not registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India, a requirement for animals used in entertainment.
