THRISSUR: District collectorate here on Thursday witnessed a heated debate on parading of jumbo Thechikottukavu Ramachandran which has the highest hiring charges (ekkam) in the state.
The elephant known among the pro-animal groups as the ‘killer’ jumbo and as ‘superstar’ amidst elephant fans had stamped to death two persons during a private festival at Kottappadi near Guruvayur.
DC learns the ‘unpredictable’ jumbo has killed 13 people and three other elephants so far.
Chief Wildlife Warden had sent a detailed report on its character to the district collector after the Kottappadi incident and banned its parade.
In the District Captive Elephant Monitoring Committee (DCEMC) meeting, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) of Social Forestry, City Police Commissioner Yathish Chandra, Animal Welfare Board representatives and others decided to continue the ban while Elephant Owners’ Federation, Mahouts Union and Festival Coordination Committee demanded permission for its parade for the ‘Gopuram’ opening ceremony in which Thechikottukavu had been taking part for the past several years on the Thrissur Pooram eve.
