Expert Team Examines Elephant At Jagannath Temple In Ahmedabad After Viral Video Sparks Outrage Over Alleged Abuse

Ahmedabad: A video showing a mahout allegedly beating an elephant at the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad has gone viral on social media, prompting widespread outrage from animal lovers and triggering an official investigation. Following the backlash, a team from the District Animal Husbandry Department, along with Forest Department officials, conducted a thorough health check of the elephant housed at the temple.

The examination included both physical and psychological assessments using advanced sensor equipment to detect any internal or external injuries. Authorities also evaluated whether the elephant was still responding to the mahout’s commands.

Meanwhile, the Gaekwad police have launched a formal investigation based on a complaint. Over 10 people have given statements so far. Police are working to determine the timing of the video and identify the mahout seen allegedly hitting the elephant with a stick. There is suspicion the video may have been recorded before the recent Rath Yatra festival. Notably, the mahout in question is reportedly not present at the temple’s elephant facility at this time.

In response to the viral footage, Jagatguru Dilipdasji Maharaj, head priest of the Jamalpur Jagannath Temple, defended the mahout’s actions. He claimed the incident was misunderstood and that the mahout may have been trying to communicate with the elephant in a way it understands, not to harm or punish it. He compared it to the way people discipline children to explain right from wrong.

He further clarified that the elephant seen in the viral video is not the same one that became unruly during the Rath Yatra. “The elephant is currently calm, eating well, and in good condition,” he stated, reaffirming that the mahout’s actions were not intended to inflict pain but to manage the animal’s behavior.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident to determine the truth behind the viral video and ensure the welfare of the temple elephant.

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