This was the revolting moment a few men set an elephant on fire while trying to chase it away at Masingudi in southern India.

Local forest officials tried to save the 40-year-old elephant which had suffered severe burn injuries on the back and ear. But the animal died while being transported for medical treatment on January 19.

A senior forest officer at the Masinagudi Tiger Reserve said that three men - Prasath, Raymond Dean and Ricky Rayan have been booked in the case. Two of them have been arrested and a manhunt is on for the third accused.

The elephant had strayed near a resort in Masinagudi India looking for food on January 17. A video shot by an eyewitness shows a few men waving and throwing burning objects at the elephant to chase it away.

A burning piece of tyre got stuck on the elephant’s ear setting it on fire and forcing it to run away in distress.

Forest officials spotted the elephant in agonising pain from severe burn injuries and in a weakened condition two days later.

They tranquilized it with the help of captive elephants and were transporting it to Theppakadu elephant camp when it died of its injuries.

A forest official said the accused may have set the elephant on fire unintentionally. “They never probably thought the tyre would get stuck in the ear and kill the animal. The probe is still on and we are yet to establish what exactly happened there.”