more-in Neyyattinkara Kannan, the 24-year-old tusker of the Travancore Devaswom Board which has been ailing for several months, died early Friday. The elephant’s condition has been deteriorating in the recent past, culminating in its collapse on the premises of the Neyyattinkara Sreekrishnaswami temple, which managed the animal, on Thursday. Kannan’s ill-health, despite being given special diets, had perplexed the Devaswom Board authorities as well as the Forest Department over the past few years. Congenital deformities The tusker had been found to have some congenital physical deformities with its left forelimb being longer than the right one. The Animal Wildlife Board of India (AWBI), which examined the elephant two years ago, had alleged that he was being overburdened and was affected both “physically and mentally.” An inquiry undertaken by the Additional District Judge, Neyyattinkara, found the elephant to be sound and healthy. The TDB had also constituted three expert teams on separate instances to monitor his health condition and suggest changes to his diet. Despite all such efforts, the elephant remained emaciated and has been experiencing a high reduction of muscle mass. Surprisingly, Kannan had never experienced musth in his lifetime. Over the past few months, the elephant has also been suffering from liver damage. Post mortem held A post-mortem examination was conducted by Swapna Susan Abraham, Disease Investigation Officer, Chief Disease Investigation Office; and Dayamon D. Mathew, Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer. The carcass was cremated on the temple premises later in the day. V.K. Venkitachalam, secretary of the Heritage Animal Task Force, has held the government responsible for the alleged neglect of the elephant’s health. In complaints sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Animal Welfare Board of India, and the Central Zoo Authority, he alleged that the Travancore Devaswom Board had 30 elephants in its custody without possessing the statutory ownership certificates.

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