Use of Wild Animals in Temples...

[Bibhav Behera]

Various temples in Kerela are known to keep Elephants for various religious ceremonies. I see similar trends cropping up elsewhere.

Take an example of this Blackbuck which I saw at the Taratarini Temple near Berhampur. It has apparently been taken from the Bhetnoi Blackbuck Reserve. It could have been an orphan, but why was it allowed to be given to a temple to be kept as a domestic animal?
Does it deserve to live a life with a bell hanging off its neck?
Why could an attempt not have been made by the forest department to try and surrogate this creature?
Is it an impossibility... or sheer lethargy???

[Sabyasachi Patra]

It is unfortunate that animals are used in the religious places. Most of the temple elephants
don't have enough to eat, are treated badly and are sick.

In this particular case, I have no idea why a blackbuck has been given to a temple. The red colour in the wall gives this image a sinister meaning.

Unfortunate. The blackbuck needs to be freed.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi