Guruvayur Tusker Gokul Dies Amidst Mahout Cruelty Allegations
Guruvayur Devaswom’s tusker Guruvayur Gokul (33) has died. The elephant passed away on Monday around 12:30 PM after experiencing discomfort. Guruvayur Gokul was dedicated to the Guruvayur Temple on January 9, 1994, by A.S. Raghunathan of Arakkal House, Chullikkal, Ernakulam.
On February 13, during an elephant procession at the Kuruvangad Temple in Koyilandy, Kozhikode, Gokul was injured after being gored by Peethambaran, another tusker belonging to the Devaswom. Gokul’s health was improving with excellent medical care. However, two weeks ago, at midnight, Gokul’s second mahout, Gokul, along with five other individuals from outside, brutally assaulted the elephant. Following information about the severe beating by the second mahout to bring the elephant under control, mahout Gokul and third mahout Sathyan were suspended by the Devaswom a week ago.
It is believed that the elephant’s mental state deteriorated after the brutal beating while it was sleeping. The elephant, already fearful after the Koyilandy incident, became even more distressed. It reduced its intake of food and water, and eventually passed away yesterday afternoon. Some mahouts had informed the Forest Department that Gokul was in critical condition. The elephant will be taken for post-mortem today.
Meanwhile, the High Court’s directive to install CCTV cameras at Punnathurkotta, the Devaswom’s elephant sanctuary, has not yet been implemented. The High Court issued this directive to the Devaswom on February 10, 2024, after visuals of two mahouts beating the Devaswom’s elephants Krishna and Junior Keshavan circulated on social media.
The Devaswom informed the High Court on February 16 that CCTV cameras would be installed, and a trial installation was carried out at the eastern elephant shed. However, it was removed the same day. Even after 20 months, CCTV cameras have not yet been installed. Elephants in musth and others are tied in the southern compound.
K.P. Udayan, State President of the Elephant Lovers’ Association, demanded that an investigation into the elephant’s death be conducted by an IFS-ranked official from the Forest Department, stating that a Devaswom inquiry would not reveal the truth.