Kerala Tourism's 'mechanical elephant safari' in Thrissur wins PETA award: How to book a ride

Kerala has been winning applause for the effort to replace captive elephants in many temples with 'tech jumbos.' Now, another similar yet novel initiative at Thrissur's Thumboormozhi Butterfly Park has won Kerala Tourism a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Golden Elephant Protection Award. The initiative, which removes live animals from tourist rides, employs a lifelike mechanical elephant for visitors and was introduced recently. PETA is the largest animal rights organisation in the world.

The park authorities call the eight-foot elephant 'Thumboormozhi Ganapathi,' after another renowned local elephant in the region. Flapping its ears and raising its trunk, the 'mechanical' Ganapathi is quite a looker, too. The award comes ahead of Save the Elephant Day, observed on April 16.

First of its kind in India
Anjitha PA, manager of the park, says, "The elephant ride was introduced around a month ago. The ride is complete with occasional, elephant-like noises and feels, which gives tourists a wholesome experience." Abhilash NB, the Chalakkudy-based entrepreneur behind the initiative, says this elephant safari is the first of its kind in India. "The riders can climb onto the elephant through a ladder. The tech elephant has a driver and another staff member atop it to assist tourists. Generally, the ride involves taking two rounds around the Thumboormozhi garden. However, the duration can be extended as per the interest of the riders."

He says the elephant's sound is produced with speakers fixed on the ride. "Ganapathi is modelled after Indian elephants. We also have plans to put together African elephants for similar rides, and extend services to other interested regions, too," Abhilash says. He says that for many tourists, the ride is appealing because it feels safe and doesn't involve cruelty to animals. "Many people love elephants, but care about them enough not to ride them in tourist spots. However, Ganapathi offers the best of both worlds," he says. Four He-Art Creations, based in Thrissur, is the technical team behind the jumbo. 

How to book a ride, ticket rate
Tourists can book the ride from the park's ticket counter from 9 am to 5 pm. One ride lasts around 10 minutes, and visitors get to see the beautiful park from an elevated vantage point, just like riding a real elephant. At a time, around four or five people are allowed on the elephant. The ticket rates for children are ₹120 and for adults are ₹150. The ride on real elephants generally costs ₹500 and up.

How to reach the spot
Thumboormozhi Butterfly Park is around 12 km from the renowned Athirappally Waterfalls in Kerala's Thrissur district. A visit to the park can be clubbed with a trip to the Athirappally-Vazhachal falls and Prakrithiramam park nearby.