Indian temples receive robotic elephants to replace live animals

Nonprofit organizations have supplied roughly 40 robotic elephants to Hindu temples across India. The life-size models are built from fiberglass, iron and rubber and are designed to stand in for live animals during rituals and festivals. Each unit costs about $6,000.

Electric motors allow the head, eyeballs and trunk to move, while rubber parts are shaped to mimic skin texture and veins. The devices remain stationary because walking mechanisms have not yet been completed.

Background on temple elephants Elephants have long held religious significance in parts of India and neighboring countries. In Kerala state, temples such as the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple and the Thrissur Vadakkunnathan temple have used live elephants in annual parades attended by large crowds.

Nearly 400 elephants remain in captivity in Kerala, down from about 800 in 2010. Adult males periodically enter a hormonal state called musth that increases aggression, and temple events have recorded safety incidents.

Reactions from temple officials and animal welfare groups Some temple administrators said the robotic models reduce the risk of injury during crowded events. A head priest at one central Kerala temple noted that children can approach the stationary figures without the restrictions required around live animals.

Animal welfare organizations stated that live elephants are sometimes kept in stressful conditions during long ceremonies involving heat, noise and large crowds. They said the robotic substitutes eliminate those concerns while still allowing processions to continue.