Palakkad – Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran has confirmed that pellets were found in the body of Otayan Dhoni (PT VII – Palakkad Tusker 7), who was arrested for drugging. The minister said that shooting an elephant with an airgun was a serious mistake and if the wild animals were provoked, they would react with vengeance.
Around 15 pellets were found during the body examination conducted by the forest department. It is concluded that the pellets may have been fired from local guns to drive away the elephant. Some of the pellets were removed by forest officials. ‘Dhoni’, caught on Sunday from a residential area in Dhoni, Palakkad, is currently in a cage near the Dhoni Forest Division office.
English Summary: Gun pellets found inside the body of Elephant Dhoni