A life-sized robotic elephant was donated to an Indian temple — a giant step to encourage 'cruelty-free' rituals

• A temple in India is using a life-sized electronic elephant as a stand-in for their rituals.
• The robot, which is called "Irinjadappilly Raman," will be replacing the typical live elephant used in many Indian temples.

Standing tall at 10 feet 6 inches, Irinjadappilly Raman's giant fan-shaped ears flap back and forth, while its amber-colored eyes scan up and down. This "elephant", however, is not a living creature like the world's largest land mammal it is meant to emulate — it's a robot.

A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala has replaced their live elephant with a realistic electronic alternative.

Irinjadappilly Raman, the mechanical elephant at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple, was donated by PETA India. It is set to be used in religious ceremonies in a "safe and cruelty-free manner," according to a press release by PETA India.

The illegal capturing of elephants has been a pressing issue in India for years, where an estimated 2454 elephants in captivity was last reported in an official survey more than four years ago, according to The Indian Express.

"Because elephants are wild animals who would not willingly obey human commands, when used for rides, ceremonies, tricks, and other purposes, they are trained and controlled through severe punishments, beatings, and the use of weapons with a metal-tipped hook," said PETA India in their press release.

India has been facing issues with animal welfare regarding elephants for a long time, especially in elephant tourism, which is said by many animal rights activists to be extremely unethical.

According to PETA India, these elephants often suffer "extremely painful foot ailments and leg wounds" from the endless brutal trainings.

But the temple's adoption of an electronic elephant is undeniably a huge step in the right direction in terms of animal welfare.

"Real worship is to protect all forms of life created by God," said Rajkumar Namboothiri, the head priest of the temple, in the press release video.

"Allowing elephants to live in nature should be the real way of revering the elephant god, Lord Ganesha," the priest continued.

PETA India encourages all venues and events using live elephants to switch to the life-like mechanical substitute, and suggests that elephants which are already in captivity to be retired to sanctuaries, according to their press release.

Insider has reached out to PETA India for comment.