Robot elephants are replacing real ones in an Indian temple

Elephants used in religious rituals may soon be replaced by robots

In the Indian state of Kerala, machines are performing rituals traditionally involving animals in captivity

Just like a real elephant, the robot fluffs its ears, moves its tail and sprays water through its trunk

The mechanical animal is 11 feet tall, weighs 800 kilograms and can carry a little

person on its back. Donated to Irenjapoli Shre Krishna Temple by Pita India, the initiative aims to tackle the issue

of animal abuse in religious rights. Used for ceremonies, elephants are subjected to physical and psychological stress and exposure to

flashing lights, loud noises and crowds. crowds during festivities can cause uncontrollable reactions in the animals, often resulting

in human casualties. Asian elephants, which are an endangered species, are an important part of Indian culture

In ancient times elephants played a crucial role in warfare serving as a force on the battlefield and a symbol of power Armies that possessed a large number of elephants were perceived as stronger and more intimidating

War elephants were widely used across different regions and dynasties for thousands of years

Beyond their role in warfare, elephants have also long held, deep cultural and religious significance

In Hinduism, they are considered sacred. due to their association with Lord Ganesh, a Hindu god with an elephant head

who represents wisdom, new beginnings and the removal of obstacles. And here comes the paradox

Because they are worshipped, the wild animals are captured to perform in religious rituals

But their taming cannot be done without physical abuse and sedation, so the holy animal ends up imprisoned and harmed

Currently, there are around 2,700 captive elephants in India. And the country's Centre for Research on Animal Rights recently alerted Kerala's chief

minister about an alarming increase of mortality rates in elephants held in captivity

citing that 138 animals have died between 2018 and 2023