I refer to a recent news item, A monk dies of elephant attack’. This is another incident that was waiting to happen. We have read enough stories about captive and wild elephants losing their calm or patience and going out of control. Animals in the wild react violently because they fear for their lives or when they are confronted by the people.

Captive animals are frustrated. If humans cannot manage their anger, how could we expect animals to behave in such situations? 

Unlike humans, other intelligent animals like elephants, do not attack unless provoked. I have seen how some mahouts handle elephants very roughly forcing them to carry heavy loads.

The monk’s death is a classic example of how animals behave under restrictive conditions, kept away from their natural habitat. Elephants are social animals and they live in groups, and their social behaviour is very much similar to ours.

It is common knowledge that when animals are kept in chains for a long time, they turn aggressive and tend to attack humans. We, as humans, need to understand the mental conditions of these animals which once freely roamed in the wild. They are entitled to freedom of movement like human beings.

The number of elephants killed is increasing daily. Their birth rate is slow compared to other animals. They give birth to one calf once in every two to four years and pregnancy lasts for 22 months.  

Asian elephants are at risk and under threat due to poaching, lost habitat and human elephant conflicts. They are among the endangered species on our planet.

It is predicted that in next 20 years they will vanish forever.