KOLAR, 25 NOV

The mechanical elephant conceptualised by PETA took part in a procession for the first time in Karnataka at Sri Madh Nagalapura Veera Samstana Mutt at Nagalapura off Bengaluru-Chennai National Highway on Monday.  The mechanical elephant took part in the annual Rathothsava for the first time and went around the premises of the mutt much to the delight of the devotees.

Life-size mechanical elephants are aimed at preventing temples and other religious places from using real elephants, thus allowing the original ones to live harmoniously in their natural habitat, said Kushboo Gupta, Director of Advocacy Projects, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

PETA India coined the idea of replacing live elephants in temples at the beginning of 2023 through a donation of a mechanical elephant to Irinjadappilly Sri Krishna Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. Now, at least 10 mechanical elephants are used in temples across south India, of which PETA India donated six such elephants. 

Mechanical elephants have a height of 3 metres and weigh 800kg. They are made with rubber, fibre, metal, mesh, foam and steel, and run on five motors.   –Salar News