elephant festivals

PETA stated that elephants are highly social beings and that they need to live in forests with their families for their well being. It also encouraged the local temples to use mechanical elephants and send real elephants to the forests.

The baby elephant was born on July 1 at Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Dharmasthala has been named Shivani

Fans of the elephant allege that the government was interfering with the traditions whereas the government says that it took the decision based on safety concerns.