Amid fad for robotic ones, two mutts lock tusks over female elephant

Some temples and religious mutts in Karnataka have started using robotic elephants for religious activities, owing to growing awareness on how it’s a ‘torture’ to the captive gentle giants. 

But two mutts have locked horns, rather tuskers, over owning 33-year-old female jumbo Subhadre. 

The forest department of Davangere has now decided to write a letter to Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre, urging the government to issue an order directing all mutts, temples to use robotic elephants henceforth.

In 1993, at the request of the Krishna Mutt in Udupi, the department had given them a female elephant. It was named Subhadre by the mutt.

In 2015, when the elephant’s health deteriorated, she was sent to the Sakrebailu elephant camp in Shivamogga district for treatment.

Subhadre recovered and the forest department wrote to Udupi Mutt, asking them to take her back.  However, the mutt wrote back, saying the department could keep her permanently as it would be difficult for them to bear the elephant’s expenses.

The forest department agreed, but said the mutt would have to pay for the jumbo’s
upkeep. 

In April 2019, the Udupi mutt wrote again to the department, asking the latter to shift Subhadre to Hirekal Mutt in Honnali taluk of Davangere district, as they (Udupi mutt) were finding it difficult to fund her expenses. 

The forest department obliged. Now, Udupi mutt wants Subhadre back, much to the chagrin of Honnali mutt.

Deputy conservator of forests (Davangere division) Harshavardhan P N told DH, “Elephants are highly sensitive animal. They may go on a rampage on seeing crowds or when crackers are burst during processions in temples or
mutts”. 

Elephants continue to be used during Mysuru Dasara, only because it has been a tradition for many centuries, he said. 

Hirekal Mutt seer Wodeyar Channamallikarjuna Shivacharya Swami told DH.

“The authorities of Krishna Mutt in Udupi got the ownership of the elephant issued to us cancelled, some months go. They now want it back. Challenging this, we have approached the High Court. The elephant has been in the mutt for the past six years and we have obtained permission from the forest department to take care of it”.

Noted environmentalist B M Kumaraswamy told DH, “Using elephants or other wild animals for religious activities may give pleasure to humans. But it is a torture to the animals. So, the forest department must encourage temples, mutts to use robotic animals”.