Mystery shrouds jumbo’s death despite owner’s claim

Sources said that Mr Pandey had been telling forest department officials that Rupa, aged 38-40, was healthy.

The recent death under mysterious circumstances of Rupa, a female elephant, at Goregaon’s Film City has raised questions after the pachyderm’s owner allegedly claimed that the elephant was healthy — a claim that has been disputed.

Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of Thane Forest Department Kishore Thakare said that according to their information, Rupa, the elephant, was brought to the film city on Friday for a photo session.

“Shabhashankar Pandey (the owner) has claimed that he had brought the elephant for a photo session after a friend of his wanted to be clicked himself with the animal. This photo session was to begin at around 5 pm and was to go on for an hour but the elephant collapsed at around 2 pm and was then declared dead,” said Mr Thakare.

Sources said that Mr Pandey had been telling officials and everyone else that Rupa was healthy. Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association of Wildlife Welfare, said, “While being on the spot, it was observed that the animal had an unhealed wound on its front right leg, which indicates that the animal was not fit to be used for any purpose.”

One of the officials at the spot said, “A crane was already present at the spot where the elephant was found dead after we reached the film city.” He explained, “A crane was present at the post even before people could reach there. This also raises the question of whether the animal collapsed on the same spot as shown or probably while performing the shoot in the film city.”

Despite repeated efforts, The Asian Age could not get in touch with Mr Pandey.

Meanwhile, the prima facie cause of Rupa’s death was deemed to have been “multiple gall bladder and hepatic Calculi (stones) leading hepatic failure and toxemia”. Dr Shailesh Pethe, veterinary officer, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) who conducted the post-mortem, said Rupa was between 38 to 40 years old. He added that final patho-anatomical diagnosis and post mortem report would be available in a few days.

The Thane Forest Department has said it would probe the death as the elephant’s owner allegedly did not have permission for its commercial use.