Mon Apr 07 18:04:31 UTC 2025: ## Injured Elephant Paraded at Kannur Temple Festival Sparks Outrage
**Kannur, Kerala – April 7, 2025** – An elephant with severe festering wounds was paraded for nearly three kilometers during a temple festival in Kannur, Kerala, sparking widespread outrage. A video showing the visibly distressed animal, identified as Mangalakunnu Ganeshan, struggling to walk due to its injuries, has gone viral, drawing condemnation from animal welfare activists and the public.
The elephant, reportedly brought from Palakkad, was paraded on Sunday, April 6th, at the Sree Sundareswara Temple in Talap as part of the temple festivities. Despite its deep wounds and injured leg, the animal was forced to participate, visibly limping and in pain throughout the procession.
Following media reports, the temple management committee held an emergency meeting on Monday and decided to immediately return the elephant to its owner. Temple officials stated they had noticed the elephant’s condition and subsequently removed it from further participation in the festival.
Animal welfare organizations are demanding stringent action against the elephant’s owner and are calling for stricter regulations to prevent similar acts of cruelty. The incident has ignited a debate about the ethical treatment of animals used in religious ceremonies.
First Piper 