In a shocking moment two elephants fought each other before turning on a crowd of worshippers at a religious festival in India.
Thousands of worshippers at the Tharakkal Hindu temple had gathered for the Hindu procession in the city of Thrissur, south India.
Two elephants were part of the procession, an older bull named Guruvayur Ravikrishnan and Puthuppally Arjunan.
The older bull became agitated and lashed out at the other elephant, before the pair began charging through the crowds.
Dozens of attendees were injured when they fell over trying to flee the scene.
Video footage of the incident shows the elephants locking tusks as they brawl.
Asian elephant bulls can weigh up to 4,000 kg when fully grown.
The subcontinent is home to over 30,000 wild elephants, which makes uparound 60 per cent of the world’s entire Asian elephant population.
In India, many elephants are being held in captivity and are used in events to perform, including at religious festivals and weddings.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.
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Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
