The fatal incident was the most recent in a string of elephant attacks in southern India
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NEED TO KNOW
- A man was killed after a wild elephant charged and trampled him outside his home in Kerala, India
- Residents said the elephant has also damaged crops
- The fatal attack sparked protests from villagers, who blocked a roadway and demanded stronger government action amid a recent string of violent human-elephant encounters in the area
A man died after he was brutally attacked by a wild elephant outside his home.
The incident occurred in Kerala, a state in southern India, at about 2:45 a.m. on Friday, May 29, according to ETV Bharat, The New Indian Express and The Hindu. The outlets identified the man as local farmer Pullerkatt Mohanan, who was believed to be in his 60s.
Mohanan stepped into the courtyard outside his home after hearing the elephant in the area, according to locals, per the outlets.
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Residents said the elephant had entered Mohanan's farm the previous day and damaged crops, and so he was attempting to scare the animal away, according to ETV Bharat.
The elephant ultimately charged Mohanan and began trampling him, resulting in fatal injuries, according to K. Satheesh Kumar, president of the local village council, per The New Indian Express.
Mohanan was rushed to a local hospital, but did not survive the attack, per ETV Bharat, The New Indian Express and The Hindu. The fatal incident marks the most recent in a string of elephant attacks on humans in the area.
Locals organized a road blockade on Saturday, May 30, to protest what they described as a lack of government accountability on the issue.
“The [Minister for Forests & Wildlife Protection] has assured [us he will visit the area] on Monday and hold a meeting to discuss the issue,” Kumar said in a statement, per The New Indian Express.
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He added that the area's chief forest conservator assured him that the elephant responsible for the most recent attack will be relocated out of the area.
“We ended the road blockade after receiving the assurance,” Kumar continuedl. “If the government fails to find a permanent solution, the residents of Athirappilly will be forced to intensify the protest.”
The Kerala Forests & Wildlife Protection did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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