Thiruvananthapuram, non-profit organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, along with actor Adah Sharma, on Saturday gifted a life-size mechanical elephant to the Pournamikavu temple here.
PETA said in a statement that the mechanical elephant, named Baladhasan, was donated to the temple in recognition of its decision to never own or hire live pachyderms for ceremonies and festivals.
The mechanical elephant, the third to be introduced into a Kerala temple, is about three meters tall and weighs about 800 kilograms, PETA said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, “Technological progress allows us to preserve our deep cultural traditions and heritage, while allowing endangered elephants to live with their families in the jungle.
"I am delighted to contribute this mechanical elephant to PETA India, allowing followers to participate in sacred rituals in a way that is safe for humans and respectful of animals."
Mukya Karyadarshi M S Bhuvanachandran of Pournamikavu temple welcomed the donation and was quoted as saying: "On this auspicious day of Pournami, we are delighted to have with us the mechanical elephant Baladhasan in honor of all the divine creatures who long to roam the earth free and safe with their loved ones."
PETA India in its statement further said that according to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala over a period of 15 years.
He further said that two life-size mechanical elephants are already in use in temples in Kerala thanks to the efforts of PETA India in recognition of the temples' decisions to never own or hire live elephants.
"They include Irinjadappilly Raman at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna temple in Thrissur and Mahadevan at the Thrikkayil Mahadeva temple in Kochi," he said.
“PETA India encourages all venues and events that use real elephants to switch to realistic mechanical elephants or other media instead of live animals.
"PETA India advocates that elephants already in captivity be removed to sanctuaries where they can live unshackled and in the company of other elephants, healing psychologically and physically from the trauma of years of isolation, captivity and abuse," it said in its statement. .
PETA said in a statement that the mechanical elephant, named Baladhasan, was donated to the temple in recognition of its decision to never own or hire live pachyderms for ceremonies and festivals.
The mechanical elephant, the third to be introduced into a Kerala temple, is about three meters tall and weighs about 800 kilograms, PETA said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, “Technological progress allows us to preserve our deep cultural traditions and heritage, while allowing endangered elephants to live with their families in the jungle.
"I am delighted to contribute this mechanical elephant to PETA India, allowing followers to participate in sacred rituals in a way that is safe for humans and respectful of animals."
Mukya Karyadarshi M S Bhuvanachandran of Pournamikavu temple welcomed the donation and was quoted as saying: "On this auspicious day of Pournami, we are delighted to have with us the mechanical elephant Baladhasan in honor of all the divine creatures who long to roam the earth free and safe with their loved ones."
PETA India in its statement further said that according to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala over a period of 15 years.
He further said that two life-size mechanical elephants are already in use in temples in Kerala thanks to the efforts of PETA India in recognition of the temples' decisions to never own or hire live elephants.
"They include Irinjadappilly Raman at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna temple in Thrissur and Mahadevan at the Thrikkayil Mahadeva temple in Kochi," he said.
“PETA India encourages all venues and events that use real elephants to switch to realistic mechanical elephants or other media instead of live animals.
"PETA India advocates that elephants already in captivity be removed to sanctuaries where they can live unshackled and in the company of other elephants, healing psychologically and physically from the trauma of years of isolation, captivity and abuse," it said in its statement. .
