Watch video: In a first, Kerala temple introduces mechanical elephant for performing rituals

In a first in Kerala a lifelike mechanical elephant was on Sunday dedicated to the deity in a temple near here for performing daily rituals from now on instead of a real pachydermPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals PETA India joined hands with awardwinning actor Parvathy Thiruvothu and held the Nadayiruthal ceremony of Irinjadappilly Raman a robotic elephant at Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in the districtPETA said Raman will help conduct ceremonies at the temple in a safe and crueltyfree manner and thereby supports real elephants rehabilitation and lives in forests and end the horror of captivity for themRaman can do things a real elephant can do except he does not need to eat and does not mind being used for temple festivities Thats because hes a robot gifted to a temple by PETA India Advait_Prashant Prashant_Advait pictwittercomgzAeRlzkDMmdash PETA India PetaIndia March 1 2023An inaugural ceremony held today was followed by a performance by the percussion ensemble led by Peruvanam Satheesan Marar Subjecting live elephants to the extreme loudness of the timpani is cruel as it is damaging and distressing for live elephants PETA said in a releaseMs Thiruvothu said these days we have access to understanding what animals are forced to endure when humans use them for entertainmentAlso Read In motherrsquos memory Kashmir resident sets up forest area for birdsIts high time we made stronger and more impactful strides towards stopping such abuse and letting animals have respectful and dignified lives I am delighted to support PETA India in helping Sree Krishna Temple worshippers experience the joy and sanctity of religious functions in an exciting modern and conscientious manner she was quoted in the releaseHead priest of the temple Rajkumar Namboothiri said they were extremely happy and grateful to receive the mechanical elephant which will help them to conduct rituals and festivals in a crueltyfree manner and hoped that other shrines also consider replacing live elephants for ritualsPETA claimed most elephants in captivity in the country including in Kerala are being held illegally or have been transported to a different state without permissionThe frustration of captivity leads elephants to develop and display abnormal behaviour PETA said adding that at their wits end frustrated elephants often snap and try to break free running amok and so harming humans other animals and propertyAccording to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in a 15year period Thechikkattukavu Ramachandran who has been in captivity for about 40 years and is one of the most often used elephants in Keralas festival circuit has reportedly killed 13 individuals six mahouts four women and three elephants the release saidPETA urged all venues and events using elephants to switch to lifelike mechanical elephants or other means in place of real elephantsIt also called for retiring elephants already in captivity to sanctuaries where they can live unchained and in the company of other elephants healing psychologically and physically from the trauma of years of isolation captivity and abuseThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever