{ "id": "61035", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Let's treat animals with love, bring an end to cowardly acts: Virat Kohli", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "2020", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Mumbai, June 3:\u00a0Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was among several sportspersons who took to social media to express shock over the inhuman incident where a pregnant elephant was fed pineapple stuf", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Mumbai, June 3:<\/strong> Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was among several sportspersons who took to social media to express shock over the inhuman incident where a pregnant elephant was fed pineapple stuffed with firecrackers in Kerala.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The brutal incident of animal abuse took place in Kerala's Palakkad district, which resulted in the death of the elephant while standing in the river.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Appalled to hear about what happened in Kerala. Let's treat our animals with love and bring an end to these cowardly acts," Kohli said in a tweet from his Twitter handle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Star shuttler Saina Nehwal condemned the act by replying to People For Animals India's post on the brutality. "So sad to know this," Saina said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri called the perpetrators of this as "monsters".<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"She was a harmless, pregnant Elephant. That makes the people who did what they did, monsters and I hope so hard that they pay a price. We keep failing nature over and over again. Remind me how we're the more evolved species?" Chhetri tweeted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

India pacer Umesh Yadav echoed Chhetri and called for strict action to be taken against those who did it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Feeding a pregnant elephant with a pineapple filled with crackers. Only a monster can do this. Strict action should be taken against the culprits," Umesh said in a tweet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Director of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India, Sachin Bangera has been very vocal and celebrities have been replying to his posts, asking him to get the criminals arrested.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Never understood humans. They revere elephant-God and also abuse elephants by beating, torturing and using them for joyrides," he tweeted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Olympian pistol shooter Heena Sidhu wrote, replying to the post: "Not a rocket science...<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"This is the Elephant God and this is just plain old elephant. Just like...This is a rich businessman and this one just a plain old migrant labourer or farmer. We all know what to worship and what to abuse."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Many celebrities both from the world of sports and entertainment shared images and sketches to express their anger and grief.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ace India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also posted a series of angry faced emoticons on a newsfeed of the same. Later, Harbhajan said in an Instagram post that he cannot get over this dastardly act.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I honestly can't get over this! It's hurting so bad to think of what she went through.. I pray whoever did this gets the harshest of punishment.. are these inhuman people just born this way or is it upbringing??"<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Kerala Forest department has launched a 'manhunt' for those responsible for the death of the 15-year-old pregnant wild elephant, said an official.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In another tweet Sachin wrote: "PETA is in touch with @ForestKerala. A case has been registered against unidentified persons under Secs 9 & 51 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. We've offered our support and assistance to the forest dept. in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Via @asharmeet02."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Appalled to hear about what happened in Kerala. Let's treat our animals with love and bring an end to these cowardly acts. pic.twitter.com\/3oIVZASpag<\/a><\/p>\r\n— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n