Mahadevi, a 36-year-old female elephant also known as Madhuri, has been transferred to Vantara's Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar after spending 33 years in the custody of Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Math (Karvir) at Nandani village. This move follows a legal battle culminating in the Supreme Court of India upholding an order from the Bombay High Court to provide relief to Mahadevi, who had been suffering from deteriorated health and psychological distress.
PETA India played a crucial role in highlighting Mahadevi's plight, raising concerns with the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC). These concerns stemmed from the conditions in which Mahadevi was kept, which reportedly included severe foot rot, ulcerated wounds, overgrown toenails, and signs of psychological distress. PETA also documented instances where Mahadevi was confined in isolation, used for begging in processions, and transported across state borders for various rituals, sometimes being subdued with sharp weapons.
According to PETA, Mahadevi lived on the concrete floor of a shed at the Jain Bhattarak Math since she was three years old. For 33 years, she was allegedly confined to the same concrete slab, shackled in chains, and controlled with weapons. The organization asserts that she essentially never interacted with other elephants during this time. In 2017, after years of alleged cruelty and isolation, Mahadevi fatally attacked the chief priest of the Jain Math, an event PETA says is not uncommon for elephants held in unnatural conditions. Despite this incident, she was allegedly used to give rides to children for money.
The Bombay High Court ordered Mahadevi's rehabilitation at Vantara on July 16, 2025, a decision that was later upheld by the Supreme Court on July 28, 2025. The court dismissed an appeal by the Jain Math, which sought to retain custody of the elephant despite her health problems. The Supreme Court emphasized that the transfer should prioritize Mahadevi's comfort. At Vantara, Mahadevi will live without chains and weapons, in the company of other elephants, and receive specialized veterinary care, including hydrotherapy for her arthritis.
The transfer has not been without controversy. Thousands of local residents marched silently in Kolhapur, demanding Mahadevi's return, demonstrating the strong emotional and cultural ties the community had formed with the elephant. Some villagers and temple trustees believe Mahadevi was well-cared for and emotionally attached to the town. Allegations have also surfaced suggesting that PETA and Vantara collaborated from the beginning to facilitate the transfer, a claim PETA has not yet responded to. Vantara issued a statement refuting claims that it sought Mahadevi's transfer, clarifying that it was named as the recipient by the HPC based on its track record in elephant welfare.
Mahadevi's case has brought attention to the complex issue of captive elephants in India, where many are kept in temples, tourism centers, or by private individuals, sometimes in questionable conditions. PETA India and the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) have offered the Jain Math a mechanical elephant for use in temple rituals, encouraging a transition to humane alternatives.
