The non profit organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India along with actor Vedhika has gifted a life-size mechanical elephant to the Edayar Sree Vadakkumbad Shiva Vishnu Temple here.

Sankaranarayanan was unveiled on Children’s Day by award-winning child actor Sreepath Yan. The mechanical life-size elephant will be used for temple ceremonies, helping remove real elephants from a captive-like habitat, under temple premises.

The mechanical elephant is named ‘Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan’. This donation is part of PETA India’s campaign to stop the use of live elephants in ceremonies.

In a compassionate move, PETA India and actor Vedhika gifted a life-size mechanical elephant, 'Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan', to the Edayar Sree Vadakkumbad Shiva Vishnu Temple in Kannur, Kerala. This donation recognises the temple's commitment to not using live elephants.