Tusker Gokul of Guruvayur died of brutal thrashing, mahouts suspended, probe begins

THRISSUR: Reports said Tusker Gokul of Guruvayur Anakotta died following the brutal harassment of mahouts. The forest department has started an investigation into the incident. The postmortem of the elephant will be held in Kodanad today. The second and third mahout of the elephant have been suspended in the incident.

The elephant was beaten on September 9 at 10 pm. The security officer on duty, who saw the mahouts beating the elephant informed the officials of the Anakotta. Based on their report, the second mahout G Gokul and the third mahout K A Sathyan were suspended. The suspension was following the decision taken at the devaswom board of directors meet convened on September 26th.

35-year-old tusker died at 12.30 pm yesterday. Gokul was presented by A S Raghunathan of Arakkal House at Chullikal in Ernakulam on January 9, 1994. Gokul, who was seriously injured after gored by elephant Peethambaran during a festival in Koyilandy last February, was very tired and was undergoing treatment. He had been resting for some time. Gokul was given the ‘Gajaveeran’ title and is one among the many tuskers in Kerala with a massive fan base. There were 66 elephants in the Anakotta. However, 31 elephants died in 15 years. Three elephants died in ten months.