A Hindu wedding in New Delhi experienced the ultimate wedding crasher when the elephant used in the ceremony spotted a female elephant in a nearby field. The elephant proceeded to smash 20 cars, tried to mate with a truck, and then smashed through a shopping mall during a 15-hour rampage.
The elephant was eventually knocked out with a tranquillizer gun but not before he caused $303,000 in damage. Now that will make for an interesting lawsuit. In the United States, you are strictly liable for damage caused by wild animals in your possession. However, in India, they might claim an elephant as a domesticated animal with animus revertendi (habit of return). If considered domesticated in the United States, a negligence standard would apply. This would appear to be a case of clear negligence since, the Wildlife Trust of India said that the elephant was in its annual rutting stage.
It is not clear if the trucking company will sue for loss of consortium.
It appears that elephant damage is a common claim for insurance companies in India, here.
For the story, click here
At the risk of appearing ethnocentrist, it really is a pity how they dress elephants in India. They’re all dressed like women.
” tried to mate with a truck,”
I guess thats what happens when they didn’t let her out to often.
First it was a “killer” killer whale at Sea World. Then it was a rampaging elephant at a wedding in New Delhi. Sounds like the mammals are getting restless. They’re probably fed up with humans domesticating them and making them perform tricks or take part in traditional ceremonies. Methinks dogs in dress-up may be the next warm-blooded animals to take revenge on homo sapiens.
On second thought this tune may have been playing on the truck radio,and she took literally:
Sounds like a military neoCon elephant …
Elaine M.: Methinks dogs in dress-up may be the next warm-blooded animals to take revenge on homo sapiens.
it has begun
http://www.isleofran.org/dan/perrob.gif
I had to look up ruttin: Out of the Urban Dictionary the be
st definition other than sexual in nature is this.
“getting in on something simular to plowing with a nose. Animals that are ruttin are animals using their nose to discover something.”:
Pigs like to use their nose to dig up grubs.
Or the Free Dictionary:
rut 2 (rt)
n.
1. An annually recurring condition or period of sexual excitement and reproductive activity in male deer.
2. A condition or period of mammalian sexual activity, such as estrus.
intr.v. rut·ted, rut·ting, ruts
WOW, I have heard of lots of things but not this.
I feel sorry for the female elephant in the field. How’s it feel to be left for a lorry? An alienation of affections suit against the truck might help ease her pain though.
AY,
I’m shocked that you needed to look up ruttin’.
Duh,
It said annual ruttin, not a word I use every day. Now if they were talking about 4 wheeling, I had it covered.
I’m not a hunter, but I grew up around plenty of them. I used to hear them talk about “the rut” all the time. When they went hunting, they would bring deer antlers to smack and rub together. I’m pretty sure it was to simulate the sound of deer in battle during the rut.
Pack a Derm.
“The turned-on tusker trampled 20 limos trying to reach the female in a nearby sugar cane field in the Indian capital New Delhi.
He also then mounted and attempted to mate with a truck, and smashed through a shopping mall in the 15-hour New Delhi rampage.
His adventure was finally brought to an end when wildlife experts managed to bring him down with a tranquilliser gun.
‘It is a very powerful urge,’ said one expert.”
I think the larger point is that JT is right: dressing animals up in crab costumes or religious attire leads to problems.
And as a long-time reader of this blog, I can tell you that even humans have tried to “rock the casbah” with vehicles.
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/08/14/more-brawner-than-brains-new-mexico-man-arrested-after-intimate-moment-with-car-in-parking-lot/
Is that where Hummers came from?
david
I feel sorry for the female elephant in the field. How’s it feel to be left for a lorry? An alienation of affections suit against the truck might help ease her pain though.
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Now that is wit … bon mot … thanks for the laugh!
AY,
I think the annual ruttin is the same excuse Cheney used when he shot his friend in the face when he was loaded.
I’m so happy you are presenting this story.
The whole sordid affair was so shocking and obvious – yet no one, nobody – was talking about it! Made for a very uncomfortable feeling in the room.
I think it was an ex boyfriend reincarnated. Was upset he was an Indian elephant wearing funky clothes, instead of an African elephant rolling in the mud.
Human beings as sentient entities anthropomorphize their feelings toward animals. That can be dangerous. Animals are not sentient. They behave via instinct and/or training. People need to remember that animals are essentially wild at heart no matter how much we domesticate them. They can forget their training quickly and go back to their “core programming” and that is instinct, which is wild and untamed.
Glen Ryan
Sentient means the capacity to feel (to feel pleasure, pain, fear, happiness, to have preferences). Animals are clearly sentient, like people.
Animals, especially intelligent ones like elephants, will rampage when kept under stressful conditions. (Elephants are known to have incredible memories, close family bonds, and are known to even mourn their dead.) Elephants are not willing participants–most are beaten on a regular basis in order that they be submissive. And we keep getting surprised when they fight back!
“Domestication” is generally not a kind (or moral) thing to do to other sentient species.
All species have instinctual behavior, including man. Some instinct is fear-based and survivalist. It’s our struggle to rise above this, and do our best to live within a moral framework. We need to start addressing these moral issues, and that starts with stopping the ridiculing or demonizing of other species who are simply reacting to the cruelties inflicted upon them.
AH–
I, too, believe that many animals are sentient. Speaking of elephants–did you hear the story of Tarra and Bella–the elephant and a dog who became best friends:
Tarra and Bella
Elaine M. – A very sweet story. Thanks for posting it.
The sequel is worth seeing, as well:
anon nurse–
Thanks for the sequel! Hats off to the people at the elephant sanctuary for their decision. Still, Disney could produce an animated film about the two animals.
BTW, here’s a video of another odd pairing of animal friends–a baby hippo and an old Aldabra tortoise. The baby hippo was separated from its family after the tsunami in 2004. The tortoise had been “a loner”–but accepted the baby hippo as his own.
There are nonfiction books for children written about Owen and Mzee and about Tarra and Bella:
- “Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship” told by Isabella Hatkoff, Carig Hatkoff, & Dr. Paula Kahumbu
- “Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends” by Carol Buckley.
Both books are illustrated with photographs.
Elaine M -
Thanks for the additional video and the book tips. (Good gift ideas for the children in my life.)
Maybe you should pitch the Disney animation idea for “Tara and Bell” — with your talent, it could be lucrative. Then you could invite the Turley bloggers to the premiere.