A deeply concerning video circulating on social media has sparked outrage and raised serious safety questions after it showed a six-month-old infant falling dangerously close to the feet of a temple elephant. The incident took place on Sunday near the Subramanya temple in Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala.
Choroonu Ceremony Turns Dangerous
The child was reportedly brought to the temple premises for a choroonu ceremony, a traditional Hindu ritual marking a baby's first intake of solid food. Following the ceremony, the infant was taken near the temple elephant, named Skandan. The footage, which has now gone viral, captures a harrowing sequence where the baby is carried under the elephant's trunk and between its massive legs.
In a moment of sheer negligence, an attempt was made to place the child directly onto the elephant's trunk. This resulted in the infant slipping and falling onto the ground, perilously close to the elephant's feet. The entire incident occurred in the presence of the animal's mahouts, one of whom is the father of the child.
Skandan's Troubled Past and Immediate Fallout
This event is especially alarming given the elephant's known history of aggression. Just a few months ago, the same tusker, Skandan, trampled its chief mahout to death. In a separate incident in September, the elephant became aggressive, pulling down two people seated on its back. Another mahout from Kollam, brought in to control Skandan, was also attacked and injured.
The public dissemination of the video prompted swift administrative action. The temporary mahout present during the baby's fall has been removed from his duties. Action has also been taken against the child's father, the mahout who brought the baby near the elephant. He defended his actions by claiming he wanted to help the child overcome fear of the animal.
Broader Questions on Safety and Tradition
This incident has ignited a fierce debate in Kerala, balancing deeply held cultural and religious traditions against paramount concerns for child safety and wildlife welfare. The practice of taking infants close to captive elephants, especially one with a documented violent record, is now under intense scrutiny.
While the child escaped physical injury this time, the video serves as a stark warning. It highlights a critical need for enforcing stringent safety protocols during temple festivals and rituals involving elephants. The authorities' response in removing the mahouts involved is a first step, but many are calling for a comprehensive review of guidelines to prevent such reckless endangerment in the future.
