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The native elephants ofKerala areIndian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus), one of three recognizedsubspecies of theAsian elephant. Since 1986, Asian elephants have been listed asendangered by theIUCN, with the worldwide population declining by at least 50% over the last three generations, now estimated to be between 25,600 and 32,750 in the wild. Preeminent threats include by habitat fragmentation, degradation, and loss, human-elephant conflict (HEC), and poaching, as human populations increase globally.[1]
Estimates of the number of wild elephants in Kerala vary, with an official 2024 census estimating just under 1,800 elephants.[2] Prior estimates (using significantly different estimation techniques) include 4,286 wild elephants according to a 1993 census, and 5,706 according to a 2017 census.[3] There appears to be some disagreement as to which techniques yield the most accurate estimates, with factors such as elephant migration patterns to nearby states potentially affecting wild elephant counts.
Along with a considerable population of wild elephants, in 2025 Kerala has about 400 captive elephants, down from more than 500 in 2018.[4] Most captive elephants in Kerala are owned by temples or individuals, with some owned by the government forest department. Privately-owned elephants are most commonly used in festivals and religious ceremonies, though some are made to work in timber logging or otherwise kept as pets or status symbols.[5] Animal activists in the region have alleged that some captive elephants in Kerala and southern India are frequently subject to abuse or poor living conditions.[6][7][8]
Elephants in Kerala are often referred to as the "sons of thesahya" (cf. poem "Sahyante Makan" by Vyloppalli Sreedhara Menon). As the state animal, the elephant is featured on the emblem of theGovernment of Kerala, taken from the royal arms of bothTravancore andCochin.[9][10] It is believed by some that an elephant that has been captured in the wild, and tamed, will never be accepted by other wild elephants, a claim contested by some activists.
Many prominent temples in Kerala own elephants, many of which are donated by devotees. Elephants are a core part of ritual worship in the famousGuruvayur temple which owns more than 60 elephants. The world's only Elephant Palace is constructed inPunnattur Kotta, 3 km from the Guruvayur temple, to house the temple's elephants. A famous elephant, namedGuruvayur Kesavan, belonged to this temple. Elephants carry the deity during annual festival processions and ceremonialcircumambulations in the Hindu temples. Thetemple elephants are decorated withgoldplated caparisons ("nettipattam"),bells, andnecklaces. People mounted on the elephants hold tinselled silk parasols ("muttukuda") up high, swaying white tufts ("vencamaram") and peacock feather fans ("alavattam") to the rhythm of the orchestra.[11] Seventeen elephants are engaged for the daily ceremonial rounds to the accomplishment ofPancari Melam inKudalmanikyam temple.
Many elephants are featured in the local legends of Kerala.Aitihyamala ("A Garland of Historical Anecdotes") byKottarathil Sankunni was written in eight volumes; each volume ending with a story or legend about a famous elephant.[12]
Each elephant has threemahouts, calledpaappan in theMalayalam language. The most important duty of the mahouts is to bathe and massage the elephant with small rocks, and thehusk ofcoconuts. In themonsoon season, the elephants undergoAyurvedicrejuvenation treatments which include decoctions with herbs, etc.
In November 2014,Mathrubhumi reported the incident of a tamed elephant, Indrajit, being released to the wild. To avoid the troubles a tamed elephant may face in the wild, special arrangements were made by the forest-wildlife departments of the Government of Kerala, to ensure a smooth transition.[13] The elephant is 15 years old and is expected to live for another 50 years. Elephants have huge market value in a state like Kerala.[14]
Around 700 elephants are owned by people and temples. These elephants are rented out for more than 10,000 festivals and processions in which a single elephant may generate revenue up to $5000 a day according to their status.[15] These animals have to endure long and noisy parades, loud firecrackers, may need to stand near flames, travel long distances in open shabby vehicles and walk on tarred roads in the scorching sun for hours, denying even food, water and sleep, in the name of religion and tourism promotion.[15][16]
Biologist V. Sridhar accuses temple boards of greed and coercing aggressive elephants unsuited to such tasks by going to the extent of hobbling them even with spike chains on their forelegs. He further claims that due to the increasing work load, elephants in their prime (20–40 years of age) seem to be dying prematurely.[17] He suspects that increase in death toll - due to intestinal obstruction and other digestive problems - is indicative of potential increase in physiological and psychological stress.[18] There have been reports by three official committees that investigated the abuse of elephants at Guruvayur, and which have detailed the abuses inflicted on the Temple Elephants, in violation of various animal welfare laws in India.[19]
On 8 April 2021, the death of Ambalappuzha Vijayakrishan sparked a controversy in Kerala. The elephant lovers accused Devaswom Board and its mahout for killing the elephant. According to them, for several months prior to his death, the elephant were tortured by its mahouts and was used by the board for parading in spite of him having severe injuries.[20]
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One of the famous families inThrissur District ofKerala, the Venkitadri family, has made ornaments for three generations, especially for the famousThrissur pooram, the most famous of the Hindu temple-centred festivals.[21] They make gold plated caparisons, umbrellas,alavattam,venchamaram, and necklaces.[21] They decorate 150 elephants with ornaments for temple festivals.[21]Thrissur Pooram,Nenmara Vallangi Vela are some of the famous festivals in Kerala in which more decorated elephants are used for procession.[21]
Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre in theThiruvananthapuram district is the India's first and world's largest elephant rehabilation centre, opened with an aim to protect and rehabilititate elephants.[22] Other elephant care centers in the state includesKodanad Abhayaranyam animal shelter and elephant training centre andElephant Training Center, Konni.
Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department has conducted a statewide census in Kerala in November 2018, necessitated by an order issued by the Supreme Court. In this survey, over 5706[16] elephants were counted.Thrissur recorded the highest number of elephants (145) andKannur has the lowest elephant population (3).Kasargod has no elephants.
(The investigations) ... reveal a violation of several laws and guidelines such as The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act...
