Overview of role of the elephants in culture of Kerala
Wild elephants in Munnar
Elephants found in Kerala, the Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus), are one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant. Since 1986, Asian elephants have been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 25,600 to 32,750 in the wild. The species is pre-eminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.[1] Along with a large population of wild elephants, Kerala has more than seven hundred captive elephants. Most of them are owned by temples and individuals.[citation needed] They are used for religious ceremonies in and around the temples, and some churches, and a few elephants work at timber yards.
Elephants in Kerala are often referred to as the "sons of the sahya" (cf. poem "Sahyante Makan" by Vyloppalli Sreedhara Menon). As the State Animal, the elephant is featured on the emblem of the Government of Kerala state, taken from the Royal Arms of both Travancore and Cochin.[2][3] It is believed that an elephant that has been captured in the wild, and tamed, will never be accepted by other wild elephants.
^Choudhury, A.; Lahiri Choudhury, D.K.; Desai, A.; Duckworth, J.W.; Easa, P.S.; Johnsingh, A.J.T.; Fernando, P.; Hedges, S.; Gunawardena, M.; Kurt, F.; et al. (2008). "Elephas maximus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. IUCN: e.T7140A12828813. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T7140A12828813.en. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
^For details cf. George Menachery, "The Elephant and the Christians", SARAS, Ollur, 2014 where the emblems of early Cheras, Kochi, Travancore, Tirukkochi(Travancore-Cochin), and Kerala States with the elephant emblems are given.
^"Aanayum Nazraniyum The Elephant in Kerala Churches" (PDF).
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