In the southern Indian state of Kerala, mechanical elephants are beginning to take the place of their living counterparts at traditional temple celebrations in the city of Chalakudy and beyond.
The move toward robotic alternatives follows mounting concerns about the welfare of elephants used in these festivals, as well as a number of alarming incidents that raised serious safety questions.
A photo gallery assembled by AP photo editors captures this unusual and evolving tradition, documenting the transition from live animals to lifelike robotic replicas at these culturally significant events.
