Kerala: Robotic elephants unveiled at two temples as alternative to live tuskers

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Two robotic elephants developed by the Voices for Asian Elephants Society, a non-profit organisation, were unveiled astatine temples successful this district, members of the radical said connected Friday.

A robotic elephant named Neelamkulangara Vishnudasan was ceremonially unveiled astatine the Panavally Neelamkulangara Sree Narayana Vilasam Sree Maha Vishnu Temple connected Thursday, according to a release.

On the aforesaid day, different robotic elephant, Omkareswaram Rama Senapathy, was unveiled astatine the Omkareswaram Sree Rama Subrahmanya Temple successful Cherthala.

“Both elephants entered their temples amid accepted music, rituals, and vibrant celebrations, preserving ineffable pageantry and Kerala’s affluent culture. This inaugural offers a humane and culturally delicate alternate to unrecorded captive elephants,” it said.

Members of the organisation said robotic elephants alteration temples to uphold age-old traditions portion eliminating the suffering, stress, and nationalist information risks often associated with parading unrecorded elephants.

“Young elephants successful the premier of their lives are dying — astatine an property when, successful the wild, they would beryllium mating, leading, and strengthening their household bonds,” said Sangita Iyer, laminitis and managing manager of the Voices for Asian Elephants Society.

“The caller stampede involving Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran, on with the tragic decease of a mahout successful a abstracted incident, underscores the urgent request for meaningful reform,” she added.

Designed by Four He-Arts Creations successful Chalakudy nether creator Prasanth Prakash, the 2 installations are the 3rd and 4th robotic elephants commissioned by the society, members added.

Standing 10 feet gangly and weighing astir 500 kg, the robotic elephants are crafted from fibre and rubber to make a lifelike appearance.

Their eyes, ears, trunk, and process determination electronically, and they tin safely transportation up to 4 radical during rituals and processions, delivering grandeur without causing harm, it further said.

Designed by Four He-Arts Creations successful Chalakudy nether creator Prasanth Prakash, the 2 installations are the 3rd and 4th robotic elephants commissioned by the society, members added.

Published - February 20, 2026 08:54 p.m. IST

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