Wikipedia:Ambalappuzha Vijayakrishnan

Ambalappuzha Vijayakrishnan (c. 1969/1970 – 8 April 2021) was an elephant lived in the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple situated in Kerala. Mostly noted for his strong resemblance with Guruvayur Padmanabhan, Vijayakrishnan was one of the prominent and most loved elephants in Kerala. Owned by the Travancore Devaswom Board, the death of Vijayakrishan was a major controversy in the state, as the animal rights activists and devotees accused the Travancore Devaswom Board and its mahouts of ill-treating the elephant, denying him rest and proper medication.

Life
Vijayakrishnan was born wild in the forests of Kerala. He was later bought in an auction from Konni by a cashewnut merchant while he was a baby. After getting buyed and sold by several owners, he was finally bought by the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, when their elephant called Ramachandran died. He was dedicated to the Ambalappuzha temple on 23 March 1989. Vijayakrishnan is mainly known among the elephant lovers Kerala for strong resemblance with Guruvayur Padmanabhan, one of the most decorated elephant in Kerala. He is also noted for his calm nature and no bad incidents caused by him had been never reported during his lifetime.

Death and controversy
The death of Vijayakrishnan was a major controversy in Kerala. Vijayakrishan died on 8 April 2021. According to devaswom officials, he had been suffering from various health issues for the past days before his death. But the elephant lovers accused the board for torturing Vijayakrishnan. According to them, he were tortured by its mahouts and Devaswom board for several months prior to death. They alleged that Devaswom officials continuously used him to parade across various temples of Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts, which further deterioratrd his health. "It was the lax attitude shown by the devaswom authorities that led to the elephant’s death. The devaswom allowed Vijakrishnan to be used to parade at the Thevalakkara last month in spite of the severe injuries allegedly inflicted on his body by its mahout. Surprisingly, the devaswom veterinaty doctor also issued a fitness clerance certificate claiming he was fine. After the issue was raised with forest officials, they intervened and put a stop to the parading. Vijayakrishan was shifted back, but it was probably too late"; said Sally Varma, a member of animal welfare board.