Meet Irinjadappily Raman, who will now perform rituals in a Kerala temple in Thrissur district, replacing a real one for the first time. #roboticelephant #elephant #keralatemple #irinjadappilyraman | Indian Express

In the Indian state of Kerala, machines are performing rituals traditionally involving elephants in captivity. Just like the real animal, the robot flaps its ears, moves its tail, and sprays water through its trunk. The mechanical elephant is 11 feet tall, weighs 800 kilograms, and can carry a person on its back. Donated to Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple by PETA India, the robotic elephant is part of an initiative that aims to tackle the issue of animal abuse in religious rites. Used for cer