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.

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.

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 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.

PETA, in a statement, said that the mechanical elephant, named 'Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan', was donated to the temple in recognition of its decision never to own or hire live elephants