Mechanical elephants made of fiberglass and rubber on a metal frame have begun to be used in India

The Indian state of Kerala has begun using robotic elephants in religious rituals. These mechanical creatures, made of fiberglass and rubber on a metal frame, are capable of reproducing the movements and sounds of real elephants, Goodnet reports.

The project was initiated by PETA India, which has allocated funds for the creation of more than ten models of such robots since 2023. They will be transferred to temples on the condition that live elephants are transferred to special reserves.

One of the robots has already arrived at the Chakkamparambu Bhagavathi Temple. The former abbot of this temple expressed his disagreement with the use of wild animals in rituals, calling it "absolutely unethical."

In India, about 2,700 elephants are kept in captivity, experiencing significant physical and emotional suffering. The introduction of robotic technologies allows us to preserve traditions in a modern format, taking into account the cultural and ethical aspects of interaction with animals.

PETA India claims that this approach reduces the number of dangerous encounters between people and elephants, and also contributes to improving the living conditions of animals.

Source: mk.ru