Why do we need elephants in Temples?

Separating an elephant calf from her family or natural habitat, transporting her nearly 3,000 km, tethering her with a heavy iron chain on temple premises, subjecting her to loud music and surrounding her with people shouting and taking selfie videos is undeniably cruel. What is even more disturbing is the belief that the calf is happy or “dancing” simply because she sways her head and trunk.

Whether the calf was illegally captured from the forest or born in captivity remains unclear. Either way, the treatment she is being subjected to is deeply cruel.