Elephant Killed a Woman, then Attended Her Funeral and Smashed Her Corpse
In a shocking turn of events, a wild elephant killed a 70-year-old woman in India’s Odisha region and then returned to crush her corpse during her funeral.
The incident, which took place in the Mayurbhanj district, has left locals and wildlife experts alike bewildered and disturbed.
What unfolded in the hours after her death raises numerous questions about animal behavior, revenge, and the deep emotions elephants are known to possess.
Elephants, often revered for their intelligence, emotional depth, and peaceful nature, have long been considered one of the most emotionally complex species on Earth.
They display a wide range of feelings, including joy, grief, love, and even empathy. But could these magnificent creatures be capable of something darker, like revenge?
A Tragic Attack
Maya Murmu, a 70-year-old woman from a village in the Mayurbhanj region, was on her way to collect water when tragedy struck.
As she was traveling to gather water, she was attacked by a wild elephant.
This elephant, according to local reports, had wandered away from the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 10 miles from the town of Jamshedpur.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Maya Murmu succumbed to her injuries.
Local authorities confirmed her death, with Lopamudra Nayak, an inspector at the Rasgovindpur police station, providing updates to the media.
It was a senseless and brutal attack that left her family and the village reeling.
But what came next shocked everyone.
A Grief-Stricken Elephant?
After the devastating loss of Maya, her family and the village began to make funeral arrangements.
They prepared to say their final goodbyes and lay her to rest in peace. However, nature had other plans.
On the day of her funeral, the very same elephant that had attacked her earlier that day returned to the village.
Locals were horrified when the elephant approached the funeral pyre, where Maya’s body lay, and seized it.
An elephant trampled a woman to death at Raipal village in #Odisha on June 9. The herd attacked the village again when she was being taken for cremation the same evening. #Video pic.twitter.com/2joAYhDw2n
— TOI Bhubaneswar (@TOIBhubaneswar) June 14, 2022
According to multiple eyewitness reports, the elephant, in a fit of rage or some form of grief, grabbed the woman’s body, threw it around, and trampled it before leaving the scene.
The destruction caused by the elephant was immense, with many villagers claiming that the animal had caused significant damage to the surroundings, and several homes were destroyed in the process.
Miraculously, no one else was injured during this second encounter.
What makes the story even more chilling is that the elephant was reportedly seen lingering around the area, seemingly watching over Maya’s body even after the chaos had calmed down.
Some villagers reported seeing the elephant return to attack the body again after the initial destruction, though there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.
Revenge or Grief?
This unusual and violent behavior from the elephant has sparked a range of theories.
Some believe the elephant may have been acting out of revenge.
Social media buzzed with rumors suggesting that Maya had previously thrown stones at the elephant when poachers attempted to steal its baby.
However, these claims remain unsubstantiated, and no credible news source has confirmed such an incident.
Despite the rumors, experts like Duncan McNair, a lawyer and founder of the conservation organization Save The Asian Elephants, caution against jumping to conclusions.
According to McNair, while elephants are typically known for their peaceful and gentle nature, they can be highly dangerous when provoked or mistreated.
“This tragic incident should serve as a reminder that elephants, though generally non-violent, can become violent and lethal when they feel threatened,” McNair told Newsweek.
“These endangered creatures are extraordinarily intelligent, and their behavior can be unpredictable if they are agitated or mistreated.”
McNair went on to explain that elephants possess remarkable cognitive abilities and long memories.
This might explain why the elephant seemed to return to Maya’s funeral in a state of heightened aggression.
Elephants are known to remember individuals who have harmed them, and they can hold grudges for years.
In this case, if the elephant had indeed been provoked by Maya or others in the past, it’s possible the animal recognized her and reacted with anger or even vengeance.
However, McNair also noted that it is highly unusual for elephants to lash out without provocation.
“Elephants typically do not harm people who do not pose a threat to them or their young,” he said.
“This incident is particularly baffling because there is no clear reason for the elephant’s violent behavior.”
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Elephant’s Extraordinary Cognitive Capacities
The incident also draws attention to the elephant’s incredible intelligence and social awareness.
While humans often perceive elephants as gentle giants, these creatures are far more complex than we may realize.
They exhibit deep emotional bonds with their family members and even engage in mourning rituals when they lose loved ones.
Research has shown that elephants can experience grief and may even visit the remains of deceased companions or family members.
In some cases, they have been observed standing by the bodies of their deceased relatives for extended periods, touching the bones with their trunks.
Could the elephant’s actions be a form of mourning? Or was it something darker, such as a deep-seated sense of injustice?
Whatever the motive, the fact that the elephant seemed to target Maya’s body specifically raises questions about the animal’s intentions.
It’s possible that the elephant recognized Maya’s scent or the location of the funeral and decided to act out of some deep emotional response.
While this is purely speculative, it highlights the need for further research into elephant behavior and their complex emotional lives.
The Bigger Picture
This tragic incident has sparked a broader discussion about human-elephant conflict in India, especially in regions like Odisha, which are located near forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
The increasing encroachment of human settlements into elephant habitats has led to more frequent encounters between humans and these majestic creatures.
While elephants are generally peaceful animals, they are often driven into human settlements in search of food or water.
Unfortunately, this can result in violent clashes, particularly when the elephants feel threatened or provoked.
The situation is further complicated by the illegal poaching of elephants and the destruction of their habitats, which leaves them with fewer resources and spaces to roam.
In the wake of this tragic event, many are calling for greater efforts to protect both humans and elephants in these conflict zones.
While elephants have been revered in Indian culture for centuries, they are also facing an uncertain future due to habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment.
The solution, however, lies in better management of human-wildlife conflict and a deeper understanding of the emotional and cognitive lives of elephants.
The Unanswered Questions
What happened that day in Mayurbhanj? Was the elephant truly seeking revenge, or was it acting out of grief, confusion, or frustration?
The truth may never be known. But one thing is clear—this tragic incident has opened up a larger conversation about the delicate relationship between humans and the animal kingdom.
Elephants, like all creatures, have their own stories to tell, and it is up to us to listen.
