This is the shocking moment an enraged elephant swang a worshipper around with its trunk during its rampage through an Indian temple.
Footage shows the elephant grabbing the man by the leg and tossing him around at a religious festival at BP Angadi Mosque in Malappuram, Kerala, on January 6.
This prompted frantic worshippers to stampede, running away from the animal and scrambling to safety.
Nearby elephant riders can be seen comforting the distressed animal, which had a gold headpiece adorning its head, and removing some of the ornaments in an attempt to alleviate its aggression.
The man thrown around by the mammal reportedly sustained serious injuries, while 23 other worshippers were injured in the stampede, according to police.
Thrissur Pooram, one of the region’s most prominent religious festivals, is a spectacular temple celebration held in the cultural capital of the state.
The festival is renowned for its stunning elephant processions, where decorated elephants march in rhythm with the beat of the drums.
In Kerala, well known as God’s Own Country, elephants form an integral part of the cultural ethos and are deeply connected to the state’s religious and social functions.
Footage shows the elephant, who had a gold headpiece adorning its head, grabbing the man by the leg and tossing him around at a religious festival at BP Angadi Mosque in Malappuram, Kerala, on January 6
The elephant was seen swinging the man around by his leg after grabbing him with its trunk. This prompted frantic worshippers to stampede, running away from the animal and scrambling to safety
Nearby elephant riders can be seen comforting the distressed animal and removing some of the ornaments it is wearing in an attempt to alleviate its aggression
Their presence in Hindu temple festivities is considered auspicious.
The sub-continent has at least 30,000 wild elephants – more than any other country and approximately 60 per cent of the world’s entire Asian elephant population.
This comes after a Spanish tourist died when an elephant forcefully knocked her over with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary in Thailand.
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, from Valladolid, was bathing an elephant on January 3 at the Koh Yao sanctuary on the Thai island of Yao Yai when the animal suddenly caused her the fatal blow.
Garcia, a Law and International Relations student, was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later died.
According to Spanish national paper El Pais the incident was confirmed by local police and the elephant care centre, which currently remains closed.
Reports had previously claimed the university student had been gored by the elephant, but trusted Spanish news agency EFE verified that this was not the case.
The incident was confirmed by local police and the sanctuary, which is currently closed as a result of the tragic accident.
The festival is renowned for its stunning elephant processions, where decorated elephants march in rhythm with the beat of the drums
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, from Valladolid, died in Thailand after an elephant forcefully knocked her over with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that there were around 18 people present at the time of the incident, including Garcia’s boyfriend. No one else was reportedly injured.
The Spaniard was a student at the University of Navarra but was living in Taiwan while she completed a six-month study abroad at Tamkang University.
She would have completed her undergraduate degree this year.
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the consulate in Bangkok was in contact with Garcia’s family.
Her body has since been transferred to a hospital on the island of Phuket, where repatriation procedures are being prepared.
Valladolid Mayor Jesus Julio Carnero took to X to offer his ‘deepest condolences’ to Garcia’s family.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
