A Kerala temple introduces a life-size motorised model of elephant for performing rituals

A Kerala temple has introduced a life-size motorised model of elephant as part of performing rituals such as carrying processional deities.

This comes at a time when calls to ditch the practice of employing captive elephants for temple festivals are getting louder. 

The 11-foot-tall ‘robotic elephant’, weighing 800 kilograms and made of an iron frame and rubber coating, was donated to Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. Film



actor Parvathy Thiruvothu joined hands with PETA in donating the robotic elephant, which costs  5 lakh rupees.

They hoped this would help in holding events "in a cruelty-free manner". Chained, saddled and decorated, elephants play an important part in temple festivals in Kerala.

 

In a statement, PETA said that subjecting live elephants to extreme loud noises during festivals was "cruel" and urged all temples in the state to switch to lifelike mechanical elephants.