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India Today
6 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
Why elephants for temple events? Gujarat Rath Yatra chaos revives old debate
On June 27, the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, drawing some 1.5 million devotees every year, descended into chaos when three elephants, integral to the annual ceremonial procession, ran amok in the crowded Khadia area. The trigger was loud music and whistle-blows that prompted a 14-year-old male elephant to break barricades and charge into a narrow lane, two panicking female elephants in tow.A viral video captured mahouts struggling to restrain the animals as people ran for cover, one elephant veering directly towards the crowd. Police, zoo officials and forest staff acted swiftly, tranquilising the male elephant within 15 minutes and herding away the female were no fatalities but two people, including a woman police officer, suffered minor injuries. The male elephant was isolated and relocated to the Jagannath Temple Trust's farmhouse in Pirana, with assistance from Vantara, a wildlife welfare initiative led by Anant Ambani; the remaining 14 elephants from the Rath Yatra continued the 16-km-long routine veterinary checks conducted ahead of the yatra, the male elephant had showed signs of psychological distress, such as swaying and head bobbing, possibly triggered by environmental stressors—loud music and dense crowds—common in urban festival settings. Elephants, highly intelligent and social, are sensitive to noise and confinement. A 2019 study by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad found that captive elephants exhibited elevated stress hormones in long, tiring religious ceremonies, leading to hyperglycemia (raised blood sugar levels), suppressed immune responses and neuronal cell death. Such conditions, exacerbated by chaining and prolonged work, as possibly was the case in Ahmedabad, can cause unpredictable behaviour, posing risks in crowded environments where escape routes are India, in a statement, warned of the inherent risks of forcing elephants into noisy and crowded environments, and underlined that the incident in Ahmedabad could easily have resulted in mass India, elephants are revered in Hindu tradition. They symbolise wisdom, strength and divine connection, particularly associated with Lord Ganesha. Their use in temple processions, such as the Rath Yatra or those in Kerala, adds grandeur and spiritual significance. These traditions are rooted in centuries-old customs wherein elephants even carry deities or lead around the country maintain captive elephants. Animal activists say they are often sourced from the wild despite a 1977 ban on captures, using loopholes allowing for 'gifting' of animals. These elephants are typically kept in chains, subjected to harsh training with bullhooks, and forced to endure long hours in noisy, crowded settings. This leads to foot injuries and psychological distress, including symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder, as observed in African elephants after habitat the dangers, the Heritage Animal Task Force, an animal welfare body, reported 540 human deaths in Kerala between 2007 and 2024 from incidents of elephants running amok at 2024, at least 14 incidents were reported across India in which captive elephants turned violent. In the first few months of 2025, over 20 captive elephants used in religious processions in Kerala became distressed and aggressive, resulting in six human deaths and numerous injuries. In January, Pakkath Sreekuttan, a stressed male elephant, injured 24 people and killed one during a Kerala festival. In May, at the Thrissur Pooram, two elephants caused chaos, injuring 42 in 2013, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, maintained by a Kerala temple and famous as the tallest captive elephant in India, had killed three women at a temple festival. The tusker had previously been banned on account of similar behaviour. These tragedies stem from elephants' inability to cope with unnatural environments, far removed from their ideal habitats of sprawling forests or savannas and water, and minimal human advocate alternatives such as mechanical elephants, pioneered by PETA India. These life-like robots, capable of mimicking elephant movements, have been adopted by at least 19 temples in South India; ten of these were donated by PETA mechanical elephants, made of rubber, steel and fibre, are three metres tall and weigh 800 kilos. 'They can lift their trunks, flap ears, swish tails, and carry idols or individuals for ceremonial purposes. Mounted on a wheelbase and powered by electricity, they can be easily moved through processions without causing suffering or endangering lives,' noted the PETA such elephant, Devi Dasan, was launched this March at the Sree Balabhadrakali temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Experts argue that such innovations eliminate animal suffering while preserving ceremonial the Rath Yatra incident, PETA India appealed to the Gujarat government for a policy decision to prohibit the use of elephants in public processions and offered to donate life-size mechanical elephants free of cost to any temple of the government's choosing so long as the temple pledged never to own or hire living suggestions include stricter regulations on elephant use, mandatory rest periods for the animals and sanctuaries for rehabilitation, as proposed by PETA India after a 2024 incident wherein an elephant killed a mahout. These measures prioritise safety and compassion, addressing the ethical and practical challenges of using elephants in India's religious to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Health
- First Post
Vantara provides care to elephants that went berserk during Ahmedabad Rath Yatra
The incident, in which elephants involved in the procession appeared panicked, resulting in chaos and concern among onlookers, also raised concerns about the use of animals in high-stress, crowded environments, according to a statement from Vantara read more Wildlife rehabilitation centre Vantara stepped in with veterinarians, senior mahouts and specially-equipped ambulances when some elephants appeared visibly agitated during the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra last week. The incident, in which elephants involved in the procession appeared panicked, resulting in chaos and concern among onlookers, also raised concerns about the use of animals in high-stress, crowded environments, according to a statement from Vantara. Following the incident, state forest officials sought assistance from Vantara, an integrated wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility based in Jamnagar, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '… Their team responded swiftly and professionally, working closely with our officials and local animal handlers to assess the elephants' condition and ensure their safe relocation,' said Dr K Ramesh, chief conservator of forests in Gujarat. He said the team from Vantara provided immediate medical care, trauma support and behavioural assessments to the affected elephants. The animals are now under ongoing care at Vantara's facility, which is equipped to handle such cases, he said. 'Vantara dispatched an emergency team of veterinarians, senior mahouts and specially-equipped elephant ambulances to the site,' the statement added. Mahendra Jha, trustee of the Shree Jagannath Mandir Trust Committee, said the intervention ensured timely medical attention and rehabilitation for the elephants. 'We deeply appreciate Vantara's dedication to animal welfare. Their timely intervention ensured that the elephants received the attention and rehabilitation they urgently required,' he said. The incident, captured on social media, has also drawn attention from animal welfare groups and the public, many of whom took to social media to express concern and call for changes in how animals are treated during festivals, the statement read. Founded as a large-scale conservation initiative, Vantara which means Star of the Forest, aims to provide a safe haven for rescued wildlife including elephants, leopards, reptiles, and birds, it read. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The centre is staffed by veterinarians, zoologists and caregivers, and is built to international standards for animal rehabilitation, it added.
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Vantara to care for elephants who went berserk during Ahmedabad Rath Yatra
Wildlife rehabilitation centre Vantara stepped in with veterinarians, senior mahouts and specially-equipped ambulances when some elephants appeared visibly agitated during the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra last week. The incident, in which elephants involved in the procession appeared panicked, resulting in chaos and concern among onlookers, also raised concerns about the use of animals in high-stress, crowded environments, according to a statement from Vantara. Following the incident, state forest officials sought assistance from Vantara, an integrated wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility based in Jamnagar, it said. " Their team responded swiftly and professionally, working closely with our officials and local animal handlers to assess the elephants' condition and ensure their safe relocation," said Dr K Ramesh, chief conservator of forests in Gujarat. He said the team from Vantara provided immediate medical care, trauma support and behavioural assessments to the affected elephants. The animals are now under ongoing care at Vantara's facility, which is equipped to handle such cases, he said. Vantara dispatched an emergency team of veterinarians, senior mahouts and specially-equipped elephant ambulances to the site, the statement added. Mahendra Jha, trustee of the Shree Jagannath Mandir Trust Committee, said the intervention ensured timely medical attention and rehabilitation for the elephants. "We deeply appreciate Vantara's dedication to animal welfare. Their timely intervention ensured that the elephants received the attention and rehabilitation they urgently required," he said. The incident, captured on social media, has also drawn attention from animal welfare groups and the public, many of whom took to social media to express concern and call for changes in how animals are treated during festivals, the statement read. Founded as a large-scale conservation initiative, Vantara which means Star of the Forest, aims to provide a safe haven for rescued wildlife including elephants, leopards, reptiles, and birds, it read. The centre is staffed by veterinarians, zoologists and caregivers, and is built to international standards for animal rehabilitation, it added.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Day after it ran amok during Jagannath Rath Yatra procession, elephant shifted to temple's farmhouse
A day after an elephant ran amok during a procession taken out to celebrate the 148th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, the animal was relocated to the farmhouse of the Jagannath Temple Trust in Pirana on Saturday. At least two people were injured in the incident. Dr R K Sahu, Director of Kankaria Zoo in Ahmedabad, told The Indian Express, 'While welcoming the elephants, the people started playing loud DJ music, which made the male elephant panic. Since it was a group of three elephants, the females also followed but they were calmed immediately after.' It was due to the swift thinking and action by a joint team of the zoo authorities, forest officials, police, as well as the temple trustees and the owners of the elephant, that the situation could be brought under control, said Sahu. The first response was to tranquilise the male elephant and shift it to a calm surrounding, Sahu said. He said, 'As soon as the incident occurred, we rushed to tranquilise the male elephant. The three elephants were taken far from the crowd. While the females were brought back to the Jagannath temple as they were calm immediately without being tranquilised, the male elephant was taken to Gujri Bazar area of the riverfront, where it was tied down and allowed to calm down.' Later, Vantara, led by Reliance scion Anant Ambani, helped in the relocation of the 14-year-old elephant. 'Around midnight, once the Vantara ambulance arrived, the elephant was taken to the farmhouse of the Jagannath temple in Pirana as it was considered that it would be best to shift the elephant to the farmhouse instead of taking it back to the temple,' the director said. Sahu added that it was the Chief Conservator of Forest, Dr K Ramesh, who requested Vantara for assistance in handling the elephant. In a statement on Saturday, Vantara said, 'Vantara deployed a specialised emergency team to Ahmedabad following an incident involving three elephants running amok during the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in the city.' 'The team included two wildlife veterinarians, six senior mahouts, eleven trained support staff, and five elephant ambulances equipped to provide emergency medical care and behavioural support. Vantara's team assisted the local authorities with the medical assessment of the affected bull and cow elephants, offering behavioural and psychological support, and ensuring safe containment where necessary,' said the release. The statement also quoted Ramesh as well as Mahendra Jha, trustee members of Jagannath temple, stating that Vantara's 'immediate support' had helped in ensuring 'relocation of the elephants for better care'. 'Following the recent incident involving elephant unrest during the Rath Yatra, we reached out to Vantara for immediate support. Their team responded swiftly from Jamnagar and coordinated with local authorities and animal handlers to arrange for their relocation for better care,' stated Dr K Ramesh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Gujarat. Sahu added that the temple trustees will decide how long they wish to keep the male elephant in the farmhouse. Sahu said, 'For the moment, the elephant is at the farmhouse. It is now for the trustees to decide if and when they wish to shift it back to the temple premises.' 'The elephant has been part of the Rath Yatra for over four years, but on this occasion, the sudden loud music led to the incident,' he added.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
SER to use AI-based system to prevent elephant-train collisions
Rourkela: The South Eastern Railway's Chakradharpur division will implement an Artificial Intelligence-based elephant intrusion detection system (EIDS) to prevent train accidents involving the animals on railway tracks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The system, successfully tested on June 15 and 16 along the Barabamboo-Chakradharpur-Lotapahar section, will be installed in elephant corridors like Jareikela, Bhalulata, Barsuan and Bimlagarh areas. "The testing was conducted by different firms and was successful. The system, offering the best coverage for elephant protection, will be selected for installation from among the prospective bidders. This may happen within the next few months," A K Choudhury, senior divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur, said. EIDS employs a combination of pressure wave sensors, optical fibre cables and AI algorithms to detect approaching elephants. When elephants are detected near the tracks, the system automatically alerts railway officials, allowing them to direct approaching trains to either slow down or stop, preventing potential collisions. For the trial run, two elephants from Vantara, the wildlife rescue in Gujarat, were brought to Chakradharpur. The testing was conducted under the supervision of railway officials from the Chakradharpur division.
