Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Welcomes Robotic Elephant Gifted to State by PETA India for Safe and Animal-Friendly Public Celebrations

For Immediate Release:

19 June 2026

Contact:

Hyderabad – 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 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (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; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Shri Vinay Kumar; and other dignitaries.

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.

Photos and video clips of the inauguration are available upon request.

“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,” said Hon’ble Minister for Forest & Environment and Endowments Smt. Konda Surekha. She added, “By welcoming a robotic elephant for use in our state, Telangana is helping keep elephants in their natural homes while safeguarding our citizens’ lives.”

“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,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Shri Vinay Kumar. He added, “Robotic elephants will safeguard human lives, prevent distress to elephants, and ensure memorable processions and public events.”

“PETA India hails the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri A. Revanth Reddy Garu under whom the Telangana government has taken the landmark decision to prioritise using robotic elephants for public events,” said PETA India’s Vice President of Policy Khushboo Gupta. She added, “This initiative to uphold compassion to animals and valuing human lives will inspire governments worldwide to consider robotic elephants as win-win solutions for animal and human welfare.”

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.

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

Sidebar

Donate Now