Thrissur, Kerala, Feb 4 (PTI) – In a significant step towards ethical temple celebrations, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, in collaboration with renowned sitarist and 2025 Grammy nominee Anoushka Shankar, will donate a life-sized mechanical elephant to the Kombara Sreekrishna Swami Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. The announcement was made by the NGO on Tuesday.
The three-meter-tall mechanical elephant, named Kombara Kannan, is a gesture of appreciation for the temple’s commitment to avoiding the use of live elephants. The 800-kilogram animatronic elephant will be officially unveiled on Wednesday by Satish Vimalan, Secretary of the Unnayi Variyar Memorial Kalanilayam, according to a statement from PETA India.
This marks the fifth mechanical elephant donation by PETA India to temples across Kerala and the second within Thrissur district. The organization had also recently extended an offer to donate a similar mechanical elephant to a mosque in Malappuram district for use in religious ceremonies.
Highlighting the initiative’s significance, PETA India emphasized that the use of mechanical elephants spares real jumbos from the distress of captivity, chaining, and weapon-based control, allowing them to remain in their natural habitat with their families in the wild.
Crafted from rubber, fiber, metal, mesh, foam, and steel, the mechanical elephants are designed to mimic real ones in appearance and functionality. Equipped with five motors, they can shake their heads, move their ears and eyes, swish their tails, lift their trunks, and even spray water. These animatronic elephants are mounted on a wheelbase, enabling them to be used for temple rituals and processions.
This initiative continues PETA India’s mission to promote cruelty-free religious and cultural practices while ensuring the conservation and well-being of wild elephants.
