The female elephant named Jayamala, also known as Jeymalyath, is in the custody of the Thirukovil temple in Sriviliputhu Nachia.
As of earlier reports, she was leased for six months with the permission of the Assam Forest Department but was never returned to Assam.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments said Jayamala is “doing very well”, PETA-India campaign manager Radhika Suryavanshi said. But video evidence collected in late October and just two days earlier shows Jaymala tied to a hard concrete floor, completely isolated from others of her kind and restrained by arms.
“PETA India’s investigation shows Joymala is living a miserable life of pain and fear, denied the opportunity to move around freely or to socialise with other elephants. It is high time for Joymala to be seized and sent to a rehabilitation centre where she can feel safe, recover from trauma, and be in the company of other elephants,” Ms Suryavanshi said.