New Delhi: Meet Irinjadappilly Raman – the first robotic elephant in India who will perform daily prayers at a Kerala temple.
The life-like mechanical elephant was on Sunday dedicated to the deity in the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur – a joint venture of PETA India and award-winning actor Parvathy Thiruvothu.
JUMBO NEWS!
Kerala’s Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple will use a lifelike mechanical elephant to perform rituals, allowing real elephants to remain with their families in nature.
The initiative is supported by @parvatweets.#ElephantRobotRaman https://t.co/jwn8m2nJeU pic.twitter.com/jVaaXU7EHg
— PETA India (@PetaIndia) February 26, 2023
The animal welfare organisation said Raman’s induction in the temple’s rolls would end the horror of captivity of his real-life colleagues, and support their rehabilitation in natural habitats.
Raman weighs 800 kgs, is 11 feet tall and made of iron with a rubber armour. He cost Rs 5 lakh.
PETA said in a release: “An 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.”
Thiruvothi said it was time to make “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 said in a statement.
Head priest Rajkumar Namboothiri said they were “extremely happy and grateful” to be now able to conduct rituals and festivals in a cruelty-free manner, and hoped other shrines would follow suit.
PETA said in a release that captive elephants often snap and break free, running amok and killing humans.
Its release said: “According to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in a 15-year period. Thechikkattukavu Ramachandran, who has been in captivity for about 40 years and is one of the most often used elephants in Kerala’s festival circuit, has reportedly killed 13 individuals — six mahouts, four women, and three elephants.”
PETA has urged temple administrations and event organisers who use elephants to switch to lifelike mechanical pachyderms.
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