PETA does the unthinkable! Donates an elephant to a temple, but here’s the catch

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals India on June 22 donated a mechanical elephant to the Pournamikavi Temple in Venganoor. While issuing a statement, PETA said that the mechanical elephant, named Baladhasan, was donated to the temple in recognition of its decision to never own or hire live pachyderms for ceremonies and festivals. I am delighted to contribute this mechanical elephant with PETA India, enabling followers to participate in sacred rituals in a manner that is both safe for humans and respectful of animals.” As per PETA, the mechanical elephant is around three meters tall and weighs around 800 Kgs. According to PETA India also cited figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force which stated that captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in a 15-year period. In another incident in Tamil Nadu on June 19, Forest officials in Anthiyur reported the death of a 12-year-old male elephant due to "electrocution" in the Karumparai forest area near Thooka Naicken Palayam.