Hyderabad, Feb. 6 -- A life-size mechanical elephant named Kombara Kannan was gifted to Kombara Sreekrishna Swami Temple, Thrissur on Wednesday, February 5. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in collaboration with sitarist Anoushka Shankar, who earned two Grammy nominations this year, has donated the mechanical elephant to the temple in honour of their commitment to never hire or keep real elephants.

The mechanical animal stands three feet tall and weighs 800 kg. It wasunveiled by the secretary of Unnayi Warier Smaraka Kalanilayam, Satish Vimalan, and will be used for rituals at the temple.

The life-like animal is made of rubber, fibre, metal, mesh, foam, and steel and runs on five motors. It can shake its head, move its ea...