The elephant, Nellykkattu Mahadevan, was brought to the thirunettoor mahadeva temple to be performed as part of the temple festival. | Photo credit: Thulasi Kakkat
Nellyakkattu Mahadevan, a captive elephant, died on Friday after it collapsed on the premises of the Thirunettoor Mahadeva temple in Maradu here. The elephant, aged around 55 years, was brought to the temple to perform as part of the temple festival.
It was not performed after showing some uneasiness. The elephant collapsed around 4pm as it was being led into a truck to be taken back to its keepers. Although the elephant was visited by a veterinarian after the fall, he could not be revived.
“The elephant is owned by Tony Thomas of Poonjar and has been cared for by a family running an Ayurvedic eye hospital for about 20 years. We have been monitoring it constantly,” said Fen Antony, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Department of Social Forestry, Ernakulam. The cause of death could only be ascertained after Saturday’s autopsy, the official said. The elephant will be cremated at a forest department facility near Malayattoor on Saturday.
The elephant was reportedly featured in the Malayalam film Thuruppgulan.
Published – 02 Jan 2026 20:48 IST
