Animal rights group seeks probe into death of Pallatt Brahmadathan

Kochi: Daya Animal Welfare Organization has urged authorities not to dismiss the death of captive elephant Pallatt Brahmadathan from lightning as merely a natural disaster and demanded an inquiry into the shelter’s safety measures and maintenance standards.The organisation demanded an expert evaluation of whether adequate safety was provided to the elephant, which was tied with heavy iron chains during severe rain and lightning.“We demand a probe into the circumstances surrounding Brahmadathan’s death and the public disclosure of its findings. The investigation must inspect the temporary shelter’s structure, grounding systems, lightning protection and the chains used to tether the animal,” it said in a statement.The organisation called on the forest department to establish a strict safety protocol for housing captive elephants during extreme weather conditions. It advocated making scientific lightning protection and proper grounding systems mandatory in tethering locations across the state.Additionally, the organisation requested urgent safety audits of all captive elephant shelters in Keralam to identify and eliminate potential hazards. It asked authorities to amend current elephant management rules to include specific safety standards tailored for harsh weather conditions.The petition highlighted a similar incident in 2014 when another elephant, Chirakkadavu Krishnankutty, died in similar circumstances.“Past incidents must be thoroughly analysed to create comprehensive safety guidelines,” it said in the petition submitted to the chief conservator of forests and the minister for forests.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in KochiStay updated with the latest Kochi news. Download the TOI App.