Temple elephant

Temple elephants are a type of captive elephant. Many major temples own elephants; others hire or are donated elephants during the festive seasons. Temple elephants are usually wild animals, poached from the forests of North East India from wild herds at a young age and then sold into captivity to temples. Their treatment in captivity has been the subject of controversy and condemnation by some,^[1] while others claim that elephants form a vital part of the socio-economic framework of many temple ceremonies and festivals in India, particularly in the South.^[2]

Mahout washing his elephant. Temple in Kanchipuram

The largest elephant stable in India is Punnathurkotta of the temple of Guruvayur; it has about 59 captive elephants; it currently houses 58 captive elephants, of which 53 are adult males and 5 are females.

To reduce the burden on exisiting domesticated elephants, robotics companies Four He-Art Creations and Aanamaker with PETA India and group Voices for Asian Elephants began construction of imitative animatronic elephants. The first robotic elephant was donated to the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, Kerala in 2023; 5 more robot elephants have been made for temples across the South India region since.^[2]

Gallery on elephants

Painted temple elephant - Kanchipuram.
Temple elephant of Virupaksha Temple, Lakshmi
The temple elephant carries the idol of the Lord of Virupaksha. The procession goes around to receive the offerings from the devotees. Location Hampi, Karnataka.
Caparisoned elephants during Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival.
Caparisoned elephants during Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival.