The tusker Soman, which had died after an accident involving the lorry carrying it, was buried after post-mortem on Sunday evening.
According to Sabu P. Isaac, one of the veterinary surgeons who carried out the post-mortem of the pachyderm, said the injuries the animal had suffered on the forehead were deep and may have contributed to its death. Veterinary surgeon from the Department of Forests and Wildlife Sreejith also participated in the post-mortem. examination
The body of the tusker, which breathed its last by 11 p.m. on Saturday after being injured in the accident, was removed from the roadside site near Illickal near Kottayam town where the accident had occurred, to the house compound of the owner in Thottackad early on Sunday. The elephant had collapsed after the lorry driver applied brakes suddenly at a speed bump. The animal’s body was buried in the compound itself.
The callousness on the part of the driver and the mahout which led to the accident and the inordinate delay in providing medical support to the tusker had generated local ire against those connected with the animal.
