PETA India Gifts Mechanical Elephant To Kerala's Pournamikavu Temple With Actor Adah Sharma

PETA India has already facilitated the use of two other mechanical elephants in Kerala temples: Irinjadappilly Raman at Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple and Mahadevan at Thrikkayil Mahadeva Temple.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, along with actor Adah Sharma, presented a life-size mechanical elephant to the Pournamikavu Temple on Saturday. The mechanical elephant, named Baladhasan, was donated in recognition of the temple's commitment to never owning or hiring live pachyderms for ceremonies and festivals.

In a statement, PETA highlighted that Baladhasan, standing three meters tall and weighing approximately 800 kilograms, is the third mechanical elephant to be introduced in a Kerala temple. This initiative is part of a broader effort to replace live elephants with mechanical ones in religious and cultural events, ensuring the safety of both humans and animals.

Speaking at the event, actor Adah Sharma expressed her delight in contributing to this cause. "Technological progress allows us to preserve our deep cultural traditions and heritage while allowing elephants, who are endangered, to live with their families in the jungle," Sharma said. "I am delighted to contribute this mechanical elephant with PETA India, enabling followers to participate in sacred rituals in a manner that is both safe for humans and respectful of animals," she said, as per a report on PTI.

M.S. Bhuvanachandran, the Mukya Karyadarshi of Pournamikavu Temple, welcomed the donation, stating, "On this auspicious Pournami day, we are delighted to have mechanical elephant Baladhasan with us in honour of all the divine creatures who yearn to roam the earth free and secure with their loved ones."

PETA India's statement further emphasised the significance of this initiative. According to the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants have been responsible for the deaths of 526 people in Kerala over a 15-year period. The introduction of mechanical elephants is seen as a safer and more humane alternative.

PETA India has already facilitated the use of two other mechanical elephants in Kerala temples: Irinjadappilly Raman at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur and Mahadevan at the Thrikkayil Mahadeva Temple in Kochi. These mechanical elephants have been adopted in recognition of the temples' decisions to forgo the use of live elephants.

"PETA India encourages all venues and events using real elephants to switch to lifelike mechanical elephants or other means in place of live animals," PETA said, in a statement as per PTI.