Nashik’s Espalier, The Heritage School, Hosts Asia’s First Empathy Building Animatronic Elephant ‘Ellie’, Voiced by Actor Dia Mirza, Courtesy of PETA India and Upadhyaya Foundation

For Immediate Release:

05 February 2026

Contact:

Meenakshi Narang; [email protected]

Anushka Yadav; [email protected]

Nashik – On Thursday, Espalier, The Heritage School students experienced a unique visit from Ellie, a remarkably lifelike mechanical elephant. Voiced by actor Dia Mirza, Ellie was part of an empathy-building tour in Nashik by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) and Upadhyaya Foundation. Ellie charmed hundreds of local students by mimicking the movements of a real elephant, blinking her eyes and flapping her ears. She narrated an age-appropriate story detailing her traumatic separation from her mother as a baby, the abuse she suffered in a circus, and her eventual rescue and joyful life at a sanctuary. The Ellie Media Launch event was attended and inaugurated by Shri Dattatray Karale, Special Inspector General of Police.

Photos and videos of Ellie from the launch event are available upon request.

“Ellie’s visit was a truly enlightening experience for our students. They were enchanted by her lifelike presence and the important message of kindness she carries,” stated Mr Sachin Usha Vilas Joshi, Education Activist – Espalier, The Heritage School. “Through Ellie, students come to understand that elephants belong in the wild—not in captivity. This initiative has sparked meaningful conversations about kindness and respect for all living beings.”

Chairperson of Espalier, The Heritage School Mrs Prajakta Joshi remarked, “PETA India’s Ellie effectively communicates that elephants are sentient, emotional animals deserving of respect. Her time at our school has helped instill empathy in our students and prompted meaningful reflection on animal welfare. We are honoured to endorse such an impactful educational endeavor and thank team PETA India for arranging Ellie’s visit.”

We are happy to support this project with PETA India in which they are introducing an animatronic elephant, Ellie, as a friend of the children [Saheli/सहेली] – we hope this will resonate with the local language of the area. The objective of this venture is to create awareness about elephants being sentient, kind beings and to invoke compassion in the hearts of the children. The Upadhyaya Foundation wishes to restore dignity, life and respect among all animals and the environment in general by educating students in this way says Mrs Brinda Upadhyaya, Co – Founder, Upadhyaya Foundation

“Ellie shows children that animals feel pain, fear, joy, and love just like we do — and that they deserve to live peacefully,” says Meenakshi Narang, Manager of Elementary Education at PETA India. “We urge families to choose animal‑free activities that don’t exploit elephants or other sentient beings. Respecting animals’ feelings helps create a more gentle world for everyone.”

Captive elephants used for entertainment are often separated from their families and natural habitats. They endure harsh training methods and are controlled with ankuses—heavy batons tipped with sharp steel points—which instill fear and pain. Over time, many elephants exhibit abnormal behaviours due to prolonged confinement and are frequently deprived of adequate food, water, and veterinary care.

Since May 2023, Ellie has reached over 247,000 young learners across India at various private, public, international, and government schools, sharing the message that elephants should not be used in circuses or for rides or other cruel events. She’ll now be visiting thousands of students at Espalier, The Heritage School and The Experimental School, Podar International School – Tapovan, Little Millennium, Diyan Universal School, Horizon Academy, Sindhu Sagar Academy, Delhi Public School, Pethe Vidyalaya, EISN Ebenezer International School, Sagarmal Modi Prathmik Shikshan Mandir, Adarsh Montessori English Medium School and Adarsh Montessori Mandir, Ananad Niketan Marathi Medium School, NMC School no 18 and Maratha High School.

PETA India also runs a free humane education programme, Compassionate Citizen, designed to help school students aged 8 to 12 years better understand and appreciate animals. It has been used by over 2 lakh schools and reached approximately 9.3 crore children across India.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

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