Why Did PETA India Offer Mechanical Elephants To Kerala Temples?

Following a series of elephant attacks at temple and mosque festivals in Kerala that left five people dead and several others injured, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has once again proposed an unconventional alternative—lifelike mechanical elephants.

Elephants Under Severe Stress at Festivals

The organization is reaching out to temples and mosques affected by these incidents, offering to donate robotic elephants under one condition: they must release their distressed live elephants to sanctuaries and pledge never to use them again in religious or cultural events.

PETA India has long maintained that the use of elephants in festivals subjects them to extreme physical and psychological stress. The combination of loud music, firecrackers, and restrictive handling can cause immense distress, leading to unpredictable and sometimes fatal incidents.

“With safer methods such as using palanquins, chariots, carrying the idol in hands, and mechanical elephants, there is no reason to use upset, dangerous, and unpredictable live elephants for processions, rituals, and events,” said Khushboo Gupta, PETA India’s Director of Advocacy Projects.

Mechanical Elephants Offered After a String of Deadly Incidents

Since February 4, multiple incidents have highlighted the dangers associated with using live elephants in crowded festival settings. In Thrissur, an elephant fatally gored a man, while in Palakkad, another elephant trampled its mahout and went on a rampage, damaging shops and vehicles. Meanwhile, two frightened elephants in another location triggered a stampede, resulting in the deaths of three people.

PETA India’s campaign to replace live elephants with mechanical alternatives has been gaining traction. Since early 2023, at least 13 robotic elephants have been adopted by temples across South India, with PETA donating eight to temples in Kerala and Karnataka. Most recently, in collaboration with Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar, PETA India donated a mechanical elephant to a temple in Thrissur.

What are Mechanical Elephants?

These motorized elephants, standing three meters tall and weighing approximately 800 kilograms, are designed to closely mimic real movements. Crafted from rubber, fiber, metal, mesh, foam, and steel, they can shake their heads, flap their ears, swish their tails, lift their trunks, and even spray water. Mounted on a wheelbase, they can be easily maneuvered through streets for rituals and processions.

PETA India continues to advocate for a shift away from the use of live elephants in religious and cultural events. “PETA India appeals to temples, Devaswom boards, mosques, and others to conduct customs in a compassionate and safe manner with mechanical elephants or other non-animal means,” Gupta added.

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