On Wednesday, 30th November 2022, an elephant named Laxmi, belonging to the renowned Manakula Vinayagar temple in Puducherry, died of abrupt heart arrest while being taken for a walk. She was 32 years old. Many individuals paid respects to Laxmi, including Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
Puducherry | A large number of people, including Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan paid tributes to Lakshmi, the 32-year-old temple elephant of Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple who passed away today
— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2022
Lakshmi suddenly collapsed during a walk today on the temple road and passed away pic.twitter.com/XlIS3bnWby
On the scene when the elephant experienced a heart attack and passed away, a veterinarian from the union territory government who was caring for the animal was also present. He told PTI that the animal was healthy before the unexpected cardiac arrest that ultimately led to its demise. The pachyderm died after collapsing on a road near the public secondary school Calve College.
Om shanti ??? pic.twitter.com/nUoeVXq2lu
— அஷ்வின் காந்தி/अश्विन गांधी/Ashwin Gandhi ?? (@PantryCar) November 30, 2022
People from all regions of the union territory flocked to pay respects as soon as the news of the elephant’s passing spread on social media. Additionally, people were spotted covering the animal’s mortal remains with garlands and flower petals.
Temple elephant #Lakshmi of Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple, who passed away during her morning walk in #Puducherry on Wednesday. She was lifted by a crane and placed in front of the temple to enable devotees to pay homage. Photos: Kumar SS pic.twitter.com/HklRVBCXKC
— The Hindu – Puducherry (@THPondy) November 30, 2022
The reason behind the sudden heart attack suffered by Laxmi was not clear. Twitter users started raising questions about her health condition and treatments. Several people have alleged that in the last few days, the elephant was being treated by a PETA veterinarian instead of a regular veterinarian. It is also alleged that Laxmi was given unknown injections. Many people also pointed out that due to the pressure of so-called animal rights activists Laxmi was kept confined and she was not allowed regular walks and other necessary physical exercises. This led to deterioration of her health, people are alleging.
Indu Makkal Katchi tweeted, “Lakshmi was given 15 injections yesterday, says Ashok Rajan an animal activist. What were those injections, why was the regular doctor denied to treat her, and a PETA doc from Bangalore had to treat her?”
Lakshmi was given 15 injections yesterday, says Ashok Rajan an animal activist.
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) ?? (@Indumakalktchi) November 30, 2022
What were those injections, why was the regular doctor denied to treat her, and a peta doc from bnglr had to treat her. https://t.co/Fn8iSXFvIV
S. Muralidharan of Redefining Animal Welfare suspected that there is sabotage by BJP’s Maneka Gandhi and Indian Forest Service official Vanjulavalli Sridhar in the death of Lakshmi. Temple activists and elephant advocates have claimed foul play. Muralidharan questioned, “On whose orders did she lock the elephant in the shed without walking & perform a postmortem.”
Will you Ms @VanjuSridhar tell us why you confined Lakshmi, advised treatment by @PETAindia doctors & restrained regular medicine to her for water retention?
— Redefining Animal Welfare – RAW (@redefiningaw) November 30, 2022
Dr. @DrTamilisaiGuv a detailed probe, postmortem & accountability needed! @Indumakalktchi @americai @thekiranbedi
During the pandemic, he said, Maneka Gandhi forcibly removed Laxmi from the Manakula Vinayagar Temple. He said, “We brought Laxmi back with the help of then Puducherry Chief Minister Narayanasamy, Congress leader Americai Narayanan and Indu Makkal Katchi. But after that, Maneka exerted pressure on the Forest Department to keep the elephant confined not even allowing her to go for a walk. Because of that, she (Laxmi) had water retention in her body due to which she suffered a heart attack and died today morning.”
Earlier, in 2020, Lakshmi the Elephant was taken away from her home after PETA and the Animal Welfare Board intervened in the matter and accused the Temple of violating the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, too, was involved in the whole affair and she requested Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi and the Directorate of Forests and Wildlife to remove the elephant from the temple and shift her to a ‘safer’ location. At the time, Lakshmi was forcibly removed from the Temple and shifted to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Kurumamber, where her health was reported to have deteriorated. On 18th July 2020, Laxmi was brought back to the Manakula Temple
