Cherpu, which is around 10 kms from Thrissur town in Kerala is home to several skilled artisans engaged in the production of wooden handicrafts and furniture including the famous �wooden elephants�. Thrissur, which is the cultural capital of Kerala is also known for its �Poorams� or temple festivals where beautifully decorated procession of elephants are an integral part of the ceremonies which stand testimony to the rich culture of Kerala where elephants are held high. Manufacture of �wooden elephants� dates back to the pre-independence era where two carpenter families came together to carve out beautiful elephants, symbolizing the connectedness of human beings with elephants. Soon the demand for the same arouse and more members from the carpenter families joined to form a Cherpu Carpenters Co-operative Society in 1939. Wood being the prime raw material used in the craft of making the famous wooden elephants of Cherpu is procured locally. White cedar tree, Rain tree, Rose wood and many local trees are cut with jigsaw, chiseled and carved in making this traditional elephant. Rose Wood or Rain tree is the basic raw wooden material used in making the sculpture. Rosewood being the star for this craft is costlier. White Cedar is used as a iller wooden piece in the place where the presence of white color is required. Initially ivory was used in making the tusks, but nowadays owing to ts restriction in trading tusks are made of wood particularly “kumbizhu”