Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Welcomes Robotic Elephant Gifted to State by PETA India for Safe and Animal-Friendly Public Celebrations
In a groundbreaking initiative prioritizing the safety of the people of Telangana and animal welfare under the compassionate and progressive leadership of Chief Minister Shri A. Revanth Reddy, Telangana has geared up to use a robotic elephant for processions, film shoots and other purposes in the state where live elephants have been conventionally used. The Chief Minister formally welcomed and dedicated the robotic elephant, donated by PETA India, to the people of Telangana state in a beautiful inauguration ceremony held during the Vana Mahotsavam 2026 at Gurramguda Forest Block, Ibrahimpatnam, Rangareddy district, in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Forests, and Endowments Smt. Konda Surekha; Minister of Information and Technology, Shri Sridhar Babu; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Shri Vinay Kumar; and other dignitaries. This initiative to uphold compassion for animals and value human lives will inspire governments worldwide to consider robotic elephants as win-win solutions for animal and human welfare.
The lifelike robotic elephant, which will be housed at the Nehru Zoological Park and available for use by persons and organisations who approach the Telangana Forest Department, can shake its head, move its ears and eyes, swish its tail and lift its trunk. Robotic elephants, that are created by various Indian artisans, can be climbed upon, and a seat can be affixed on the back. They can be operated simply by plugging and playing with electricity. They can be taken through the streets and are mounted on a wheelbase, allowing them to be moved or driven for rituals and processions safely and with ease.
Dignitaries from Telangana: Shri Mal Ramreddy; Dr.C.Suvarna IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF); Shri Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister of Information and Technology; Smt Konda Surekha, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest, and Endowments; Shri Anumula Revanth, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Smt Khushboo Gupta, Vice President of Policy, PETA India; Shri Vinay Kumar IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden with the mechanical elephant gifted by PETA India to the Telangana State.
Our Chief Minister, Shri A. Revanth Reddy Garu, believes in animal welfare. The decision to use robotic elephants will allow religious and cultural occasions to continue where the presence of an elephant is desired safely, beautifully, and respectfully.By welcoming a robotic elephant for use in our state, Telangana is helping keep elephants in their natural homes while safeguarding our citizens’ lives.
– Hon’ble Minister for Forest & Environment and Endowments Smt. Konda Surekha
Elephants are wild animals with complex physical, social, and behavioral needs, and transporting or using them in noisy, crowded environments often triggers them to attack. Robotic elephants will safeguard human lives, prevent distress to elephants, and ensure memorable processions and public events.
– Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Shri Vinay Kumar
Now, more than 40 robotic elephants are used in Hindu temples and a Jain temple across the country, and PETA India has donated 27 of them to recognize temples’ decisions to never own or hire live elephants.
This year, vegan actor and singer Zahrah S. Khan and PETA India wrote a letter offering a robotic elephant as a gift to the Telangana State Waqf Board. PETA India has also extended this gift to the State’s Departments of Minorities Welfare and of Endowments, urging that robotic elephants be used in place of live elephants. Robotic elephants are now also appearing in advertisements, weddings, circuses, rallies and more. Swami Baba Ramdev praised its use at a Bengaluru wedding in a PETA India video.
Elephants in captivity are commonly chained and controlled with weapons. The animals are also often hungry, thirsty, and lonely, which makes them frustrated, upset and dangerous. According to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in a 15-year period.
