Overview
- Thaleeswaran stands three metres tall, weighs about 800 kilograms and marks PETA India’s 11th robot elephant gift and seventh in Kerala.
- Installed at Nediyathali Sri Siva Temple in Kodungallur, the mechanical elephant will join rituals and processions as a cruelty-free substitute for live animals.
- Powered by electric motors on a wheeled base, it can shake its head, move its ears and eyes, lift its trunk and spray water, and can be fitted with a mounted seat.
- MP Benny Behanan and temple president Suresh Babu hailed Thaleeswaran for preserving tradition and enhancing public safety without risking human or animal welfare.
- Jackie Shroff said the initiative reflects a belief that elephants belong in the wild rather than captivity and praised technology for keeping sacred customs alive with compassion.