Temple elephant

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The image shows the decorated temple elephant at the Kamatchi temple Kanchipuram of Tamilnadu state.

Temple elephants are a vital part of many temple ceremonies and festivals in India, particularly in South India. A large number of major temples own elephants. Others hire or get donated elephants during the festive seasons. It is estimated that India has an elephant population of about 18,000. Out of this about 550 or so are domesticated elephants that live in Kerala, the southern Indian state. The Indian elephant population has actually decreased from around 100,000 at the early part of the 20th century to between 15,000 to 18,000 in 2003 (last Census). Widespread poaching and indiscriminate killing of adult male elephants for ivory, female adult elephants for meat has wiped out entire elephant herds leading to a collective trauma in the younger elephants. More efforts are needed to eradicate this decimation of Indian elephants by the Indian government and Indian people.^{[citation needed]}

The largest elephant farm in India is located in Guruvayoor in Kerala. This farm attached to the main temple in Guruvayoor has about four dozen domesticated elephants.

[edit] Gallery on elephants

The temple elephant carries the idol of the Lord of Virupaxa. The procession goes around to receive the offerings from the devotees. Location Hampi, Karnataka.	The colored umbrellas and peacock quill decorated fans used with caparisoned elephants.	An elephant carrying Thidambu during Thrissur Pooram festival, Kerala, south India.	An elephant saluting Vadakkunathan during Thrissur pooram.
thumb\|Elephants standing during Thrissur pooram festival in Kerala state of south India.