Jaw bombs: Rampantly used indigenous explosives causing human–wildlife conflict in a few regions of India and Sri Lanka

Dear Editor,

In response to the interesting article by Sahu et al. entitled “Animal attack, concocted for monetary benefits: A case report” published in this journal. ¹ The case concerned the death of a seven-year-old male child, allegedly from an animal attack by a bear or wild boar. The deceased's relatives demanded monetary compensation provided by the state government in proven cases. At autopsy, multiple lacerated wounds radiating outwards from the mouth were present over the face. A radiating lacerated wound with underlying fractures was also present over the right hand. The margins and inside of these wounds were charred. Yellowish powdery material, along with the smell of explosive chemicals, was present over the clothes and face of the victim. The clothes of the victim and swabs taken from the injuries came positive for the presence of explosive chemicals, and the claim was denied. Further investigation by police revealed that the child had mistakenly bitten on a fruit filled with concealed explosive chemicals. The authors mentioned that this type of concealed explosive is used by farmers to hunt wild boars in that area. I want to elaborate further on this type of indigenous explosive.

These types of explosives are called avuttukai (country-made bombs, crude bombs) or Vedi kai (explosive fruits) in Tamilnadu (state of India), panni padakam (pig crackers) in Kerala (state of India) and Hakka patas (jaw breaker/exploders) in North and North-east regions of Sri Lanka.^{2 –4} These country-made bombs are small improvised pressure-sensitive explosive devices that are usually hidden in the food, with the idea being that the bomb explodes when an unsuspecting animal bites into it. The resulting explosion breaks the jaw of the animal as well as causing explosive injuries to surrounding structures. Thus, they are also called “jaw bombs”. ³ The explosion either instantly kills the animal or renders it unable to eat or drink, resulting in slow, painful and agonising death.

The explosive chemicals are mixed with gravel and metal scraps that serve as the shrapnel, and the mixture is tightly packed together.^4,5 It’s then balled up with fodder to attract herbivorous animals or covered with dried meat to attract carnivorous animals. ³ The mixture can also be camouflaged by putting them into baits such as large fruit shells of jackfruit, pineapple, watermelon, etc., as was done in the case reported by Sahu et al. ¹ , or even in rotten fish to attract the animals.^{2 –5} These bombs are pressure sensitive; a chewing motion inside the mouth makes the gravel and metal scraps grind against each other and set off sparks that ignite the explosive mixture. ⁵

Farmers usually use these indigenous explosives to kill wild boars to protect their crops from damage caused by these animals. Though mostly used for hunting wild boars and collecting bush meat (meat of wild animals), the use of these “jaw bombs” to hunt protected wildlife animals, especially elephants, for monetary gain has been an issue of concern for the authorities in these regions.^2,3,6 The hunters use these chemical mixtures as “explosive snares”. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 of India, regardless of whether a wild animal was trapped, injured or dead, placing a snare in an attempt to trap wild animals is an offence, and if the trapped animal came under Schedule I or part 2 of Schedule II of the said Act, such as an elephant, then the accused could be punished with up to seven years’ imprisonment. ⁷ The forest department of India has taken several measures to ensure wild boars or other animals do not spoil the cultivated lands of the farmers to avoid human–wildlife conflict. Most of the private land adjoining forests has been fenced by the forest department and they have dug trenches in areas where wild boar attacks are common. According to the provision of the said Act, ⁷ the authorities also permit the hunting of wild boars by use of means other than these explosives in certain areas where wild boars have become dangerous to standing crops. The Centre for Environmental Justice of Sri Lanka has organised social awareness drives against the use of these explosives for hunting elephants. ⁶

Other domestic and wild animals, such as cows, deer, hyenas, etc., and even humans, especially children, have been reported to be the unfortunate victims of these traps.^1,3,5 Incidents of accidental explosions while mixing chemicals to make these indigenous explosives have also been reported. ⁴ Although access to the explosive chemicals used to make these explosives is regulated by the Explosives Acts of both countries, the component ingredients are widely and easily available in the said regions.