Lakshmi has been standing in front of the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple for twenty years. She suffers from foot rot on all four legs and displays behavior typical of mental stress. She spends most of her life in chains, and the only exercise she gets is in the walk between her living quarters and the temple. All so her owners can exploit her to make a buck.
Tourists come to the temple to be blessed by Lakshmi. They hand her some money, which she gives to her trainer, and then she places her trunk on their head. All day long, Lakshmi "blesses" people. And all day long, she suffers both physically and mentally.
Just last month, however, the Indian government declared that using elephants to take money from people is begging and against the law. There are hundreds of temple elephants like Lakshmi doing just that, but so far very few of them have freed from their forced begging.
Please sign this petition to demand that the Indian government free Lakshmi. She should be taken to a place like the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh where she would be able to get medical care until she can be placed in a proper sanctuary.
Lakshmi should be able to live out the rest of her life well cared for and in a place where she has room to roam.
Thank you for signing the petition and for taking a stand to stop elephant exploitation.
