There are more than 2,600 captive elephants in India, according to the Ministry of Environment and Forests
People pose with the robotic elephant in Kerala
A robotic elephant, Irinjadappilly Raman, is welcomed in a ceremony by the head priest at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple near Thrissur in Kerala, India. All photos: Peta
The mechanical elephant looks surprisingly lifelike, with expressive eyes and a moving trunk and tail
Animal rights activists have long demanded an end to the tradition of keeping captive elephants at temples, which they say is cruel
The temple's head priest said the mechanical elephant 'will help us to conduct our rituals and festivals in a cruelty-free way'
Captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in 15 years, according to Peta
Temple visitors admire Irinjadappilly Raman
There are more than 2,600 captive elephants in India, according to the Ministry of Environment and Forests
People pose with the robotic elephant in Kerala
A robotic elephant, Irinjadappilly Raman, is welcomed in a ceremony by the head priest at the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple near Thrissur in Kerala, India. All photos: Peta
The mechanical elephant looks surprisingly lifelike, with expressive eyes and a moving trunk and tail
Animal rights activists have long demanded an end to the tradition of keeping captive elephants at temples, which they say is cruel
The temple's head priest said the mechanical elephant 'will help us to conduct our rituals and festivals in a cruelty-free way'
Captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in 15 years, according to Peta
Temple visitors admire Irinjadappilly Raman
There are more than 2,600 captive elephants in India, according to the Ministry of Environment and Forests
A robotic elephant given by Peta to a Kerala temple - in pictures
