Following the incredible success of our first robotic elephant in Tamil Nadu, Voices for Asian Elephants is thrilled to launch our second robotic elephant at a renowned temple in Kerala. This inspiring shift is gaining momentum, as more temples embrace robotic elephants for their processions, sparing live elephants from unimaginable suffering. These majestic creations not only preserve tradition but also ensure the safety of devotees, preventing the tragic stampedes that have claimed human lives. Together, we are paving the way for a compassionate future where culture and kindness thrive hand in hand.
As part of the sprawling robotic elephant initiative, the pilot project commenced at a Malayali Temple, Sree Sankaran Kovil, located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Gudalur, Nilgiris by offering the temple a life-size robotic elephant. VFAE’s first robotic elephant was fully sponsored by a long-time generous donor, Ganesh Hariharan.
The initiative marks the start of a pioneering effort to shed light on the alarming rate at which elephants are perishing, with an average of 25 captive elephants and numerous mahouts dying every year in Kerala state. The year 2023 alone had seen a whopping 293 cases of stampedes caused by elephants running amok, resulting in the deaths of four mahouts and injuries to 26 others, and posing a serious safety and security threat to the public. In 2024, over 15 incidents of elephants running amok have already been recorded, with eight mahouts having sustained injuries in 15 separate incidents.
According to reports the population of captive elephants in Kerala has dropped from approximately 500 in 2019 to 397 as of the current date, with three fatalities occurring in January 2024 alone. This represents a significant decrease in the captive elephant population within just four years. The average annual death rate stands at 25 elephants per year.
The robotic elephants, created to appear lifelike, present a humane alternative that not only alleviates the suffering of elephants but also mitigates the risks faced by their caretakers. As part of the initiative, Voices for Asian Elephants is committed to expanding the use of robotic elephants in various Kerala temples. Many temples are also acknowledging that using live elephants is not conducive to the well-being of these majestic creatures.
VFAE is gearing up to launch its second robotic elephant in early 2025 at a temple in Kerala, fully sponsored by our long-time generous donor, Dolores Whitley.
Comments