Truncated lives: Why Kerala is cruel to elephants that it also reveres

When The Federal visited Sankarankulangara Udayan, the 45-year-old elephant was in the midst of a well-deserved break, recovering after a recent festival at a church in Kunnamkulam, about 25 kilometres from his ‘home’ at the Sankarankulangara temple in Thrissur.

Udayan lay calm and steady, receiving care for a tusk that once gave him serious trouble. In 2020, he became the first elephant to undergo a rare root canal treatment, a procedure that saved him but resulted in the loss of his right tusk. As part of his recovery, his assistant mahout, Babu, gently fitted him with a prosthetic tusk, allowing the team to capture photos and videos of the majestic creature. With his next programme just a week away, Udayan is being carefully nurtured to ensure he is in top form when he returns to his ceremonial duties.

A saga of apathy

Udayan is one of the very few temple elephants in Kerala who receive fair treatment. Many other elephants in the state are overworked and deprived of proper care. During the vibrant festival season, revered elephants stand adorned in colourful ornaments, embodying centuries of tradition.

Their presence at the temple festival draws crowds, but behind their majestic grandeur lies a troubling reality. As the sun beats down relentlessly, countless captive elephants endure long hours of exposure to heat, often without adequate rest or care. Their magnificence against the backdrop of neglect raises critical questions about the treatment of these gentle giants.

According to data from the veterinary department, Kerala currently has 420 captive elephants. Fourteen years ago, the state had 702 domesticated pachyderms, indicating a 40% decline. This drop is primarily due to restrictions on the transport and transfer of elephants across India. Although the government amended the law in 2022, ongoing legal challenges have stalled its implementation. As a result, no new additions have been made to the captive elephant population, while several elephants have died in recent years, further contributing to the decline.

Udayan is one of the very few temple elephants in Kerala who receive fair treatment. 

“Kerala is facing an acute shortage of domesticated elephants, with only 420 currently available,” says Dr. PB Giridas, a veterinarian and elephant expert based in Thrissur. “These elephants are overworked, especially during the festival season, as they are in constant demand for various events.” It’s true that a court stay restricting elephant imports is in place, but it will be vacated soon opening the doors for more elephants to enter the state. Many elephant owners are now hesitant to acquire new elephants, fearing it might affect their income.

“The scarcity benefits the current owners financially as they charge higher fees, but it comes at the cost of overburdening the animals,” Dr. Giridas adds.

Elephants are integral to Kerala’s temple festivals, where they are paraded amidst fanfare and devotion. However, according to animal rights activists and other concerned citizens, the duration and timing of these parades often compromise their well-being. Captive elephants are made to stand still for extended periods, deprived of the physical and psychological exercise essential for their health. Following one festival, they are quickly transported to another, leading to a gruelling cycle that leaves little room for recovery or rest.

The booking process for elephants is riddled with mismanagement. Brokers and owners often prioritise profit over the biological needs of the elephants. This negligence extends to basic necessities; during festival seasons, many elephants do not receive sufficient fodder or water for drinking and bathing. The nutritional needs of these animals are poorly understood, leading to inadequate diets that fail to meet their requirements.

Moreover, sleep deprivation is a significant issue cited by mahouts as a primary cause of aggression in elephants. Those measuring between 8.45 to 9 feet tall are particularly vulnerable, as they are in high demand for festivals and travel extensively, ending up exhausted and stressed.

“They are creatures like us, needing ample rest,” explains Babu a Thrissur-based mahout. “A well-rested elephant behaves much more calmly, and the difference in its demeanour is noticeable. Without proper rest, their stress levels rise, which not only affects their well-being but can also lead to unpredictable behaviour,” adds Babu.

Transportation is another area that poses additional risks; many elephants are transported by lorry, which not only increases the likelihood of accidents but also forces them into rapid succession of festival appearances without adequate time for rest. This is especially concerning for non-native elephants arriving from other states who often lack familiarity with local commands and dietary practices. The abrupt transition can lead to panic and aggression during parades.

The health conditions of many captive elephants remain alarming. Injuries such as abscesses and foot problems often go untreated due to a lack of appropriate care and rest periods necessary for healing. Chronic conditions like arthritis and bronchitis are also prevalent among these animals, yet they are rarely exempted from participating in festivals despite legal requirements for fitness certifications from qualified veterinarians. In practice, however, these certifications can be procured weeks before an event without proper assessments being conducted.

The phenomenon of musth—an annual period characterised by heightened testosterone levels—often coincides with festival seasons in Kerala. This condition can exacerbate aggressive behaviour in male elephants if not managed appropriately. To avoid losing income, owners often tether these elephants for one to three months, disregarding their well-being. When financial pressures mount, they may release the elephants for festival duties, resulting in chaotic situations as the animals become overwhelmed and run amok.

“Recently, it has been observed that some elephant owners are administering over-the-counter medication to delay musth in bull elephants, similar to how women use hormonal pills to delay their periods. This practice can negatively impact the elephants' health, as it elevates their stress levels by lowering testosterone and increasing cortisol production. This could affect the health of the elephants,” says Dr. Giridas.

The life of a captive elephant is marked by a troubling mix of reverence and neglect. The influx of untrained mahouts contributes significantly to incidents involving elephant attacks during festivals. Many mahouts lack the necessary skills to handle these powerful animals safely. Inadequate training can lead to misunderstandings between mahouts and elephants, further escalating tensions during high-stress events like parades.

Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, often hailed as India’s tallest captive elephant at 10.53 feet (3.2 meters), is a commanding presence at Kerala’s temple festivals. Owned by the Thechikkottukavu temple trust in Thrissur, he enjoys immense popularity, with over a million followers on fan pages. Despite his fame, Ramachandran’s legacy is marred by controversy, with critics linking him to the deaths of 13 people and two elephants over the years. However, temple officials deny these incidents were caused by deliberate aggression, and ‘Raman’, as it is affectionately known by enthusiasts, remains Kerala’s most sought-after elephant. Recently, it required a court order to allow him to be paraded, following a brief retirement imposed by the Kerala High Court due to health concerns.

“It is unfortunate that festivals, along with myths and misinformation about elephants, persist in Kerala. These so-called fake elephant lovers have undermined the well-established traditions of elephant care and management that existed for generations says Marshal C Rajagopal, researcher focussing on the lives of Elephants and mahouts based in Thrissur.

“The increase in festivals and the decline in the number of elephants have made it difficult to meet the demand for elephants, resulting in excessive workloads for the ones that remain. Adding to the concern is the fact that most of the existing captive elephants are over 45 years old, with no breeding programs happening in Kerala, which is a cause of concern,” adds Marshal.

As Kerala celebrates its rich cultural heritage through vibrant festivals featuring majestic elephants like Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran, it is imperative that stakeholders prioritise the welfare of these animals. Implementing stricter regulations on elephant bookings, improving nutritional standards, ensuring adequate spacing during parades, and providing proper medical care are essential steps toward safeguarding their well-being.

While elephants like Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran and Sankarankulangara Udayan represent a cherished aspect of Kerala's cultural identity, their stories—and those of countless other captive elephants—serve as a poignant reminder that reverence for tradition must be coupled with responsibility towards animal welfare. As we celebrate these magnificent creatures during festive occasions, let us also advocate for their rights and ensure they receive the care they truly deserve.

History of captive elephants in Kerala

Kerala has a deep-rooted cultural and academic interest in elephants, reflected in both its literary and scientific endeavours. The region has produced a wealth of literature on the subject, including translations of ancient texts like Mathanglila and Hasthi Ayurveda, which continue to captivate enthusiasts and mahouts. Kerala was also the first to translate Andrew McLean’s modern work on scientific elephant training, highlighting its engagement with contemporary knowledge in the field. Institutions like the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University integrate elephant care into their publications, such as the Package of Practices guide for veterinarians.

The history of captive elephants in Kerala is deeply intertwined with the region's cultural and religious practices, particularly evident in temple festivals. Historically, the capture of elephants from the wild was a common practice, but this was banned in the early 1970s due to concerns over animal welfare and conservation. As a result, the supply of elephants shifted primarily to trafficking from other states, notably Bihar and Assam, with many of the 400-plus captive elephants in Kerala now originating from these regions.

Dr PB Giridas says the scarcity of elephants in Kerala benefits the current owners financially as they charge higher fees, but it comes at the cost of overburdening the animals.

“We have several legends here in the southern parts of the country, and in my opinion, elephants of the south are treated better as they are predominantly engaged in places of worship as part of tradition and culture,” observes Dr. P.B. Giridas.

“In the northeastern parts of India, elephants still do hard labour and are not fed well. So, the laws need to be amended to bring elephants or breed them locally, so that we can regulate the increase of wild ones and restrict human-animal conflict as well.”

“It was after 1992, when Maneka Gandhi introduced restrictions in the Wildlife Act by removing the term ‘captive elephants’ and categorising them as wild elephants, that many of these issues arose. Now, elephants cannot be classified as captive animals because humans are not allowed to interact with them; they are viewed as similar to the animals kept in zoos. However, the elephants here are domesticated. Unfortunately, the penalties for harming them are equivalent to those for harming wild animals,” explains Dr. PB Giridas.

The reverence for elephants in Kerala is most pronounced in districts like Thrissur and Palakkad, where temples own a significant number of these animals. For instance, the Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayur has received numerous elephants as donations from devotees, highlighting the cultural significance attached to these majestic creatures

Despite their revered status, many captive elephants face harsh realities, including inadequate care and overwork during festival seasons, which often leads to health issues and reduced lifespans. The plight of these animals has prompted legal interventions aimed at improving their welfare, yet enforcement remains a challenge amidst ongoing exploitation and neglect.

This is where the relaxation of restrictions on the transfer and transport of elephants becomes crucial. By allowing more elephants to be brought into the state, along with proper taming and training, the workload for the existing elephants could be significantly reduced. This shift would lead to a more favourable and nurturing environment for the captive elephants, enhancing their overall well-being and allowing them to thrive in their roles within the community.