PETA gifts Kerala temple a mechanical elephant for cruelty-free ceremonies

In a heartwarming move for wildlife conservation, PETA India and actor Vedhika gifted a life-size mechanical elephant, "Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan," to the Edayar Sree Vadakkumbad Shiva Vishnu Temple in Kerala. This donation, celebrated on November 14 during a special Children’s Day event, marks a new chapter in traditional ceremonies—one that excludes the exploitation of live elephants.

The mechanical elephant, launched by child actor Sreepath Yan, who expressed his excitement at its realistic appearance, embodies a growing shift in Kerala’s temples towards compassion and safety. "Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan will be used to conduct ceremonies in a safe and cruelty-free manner," PETA announced, "allowing real elephants to remain with their families in the jungle."

PETA has donated three other mechanical elephants to Kerala temples — ‘Irinjadappilly Raman,’ ‘Mahadevan,’ and ‘Baladhasan’ — to replace real elephants, which are often subjected to captivity and intense training. According to PETA, over 526 people have lost their lives to captive elephant-related incidents in Kerala in the last 15 years.

Actor Vedhika, present at the event, praised the temple's decision to forgo live animals, saying, “By embracing this change, we promote both compassion and conservation, allowing elephants to live freely in their natural habitats.” Temple president K Narayanan Namboothiri echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in hosting a cruelty-free symbol to honour Kerala’s rich heritage.

Through efforts like these, PETA continues to advocate for a shift towards ethical and respectful traditions, showing that preserving culture and respecting wildlife can go hand in hand.