Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, a 36-year-old female elephant, has embarked on a transformative journey from a life of hardship to a sanctuary of care and freedom at Vantara's Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar. Her story is one of resilience, legal battles, and ultimately, hope, highlighting critical issues of animal welfare and ethical treatment.

For 33 long years, Mahadevi endured a painful existence, marked by isolation and cruelty. Taken from her mother at the tender age of three, she was confined to a concrete shed at the Jain Math in Nandani village, Kolhapur, her life a stark contrast to the freedom and social interaction she deserved. Instead of roaming freely and bonding with other elephants, she was chained, beaten, and forced to participate in temple rituals and noisy processions. She was even exploited for begging, controlled by an ankush, a sharp hooked iron rod.

The years of exploitation and trauma took a severe toll on Mahadevi. She was treated as a source of income, with children made to sit on her trunk for money, and paraded through crowded streets with ropes tightly bound around her belly. In 2017, the culmination of years of frustration and trauma led to a tragic incident where Mahadevi fatally attacked the Math's chief priest. This event underscored the psychological distress that elephants endure when kept in unnatural and cruel conditions.

Concerns about Mahadevi's health and living conditions eventually caught the attention of animal welfare organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA India filed a petition in the Bombay High Court in 2024, seeking her relocation to a better-equipped facility for medical care and rehabilitation. The court responded by transferring her to Vantara, a state-of-the-art rescue and rehabilitation center run by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

The legal battle to free Mahadevi was not without its challenges. Despite a Supreme Court order, a rescue team from PETA India and Vantara faced violent resistance during their attempt to relocate her. Mobs attacked them, resulting in injuries to a PETA India staff member. Nevertheless, their compassion prevailed.

On July 30, 2025, Mahadevi finally arrived at Vantara’s RKTEWT, a safe haven where she can live free from abuse, surrounded by other elephants, and cared for by top veterinarians. Vantara, meaning "Star of the Forest," is a massive animal rescue, care, and rehabilitation project started by Anant Ambani. Located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, it spreads across 3,000 acres of green land and is designed for healing and protecting animals. Vantara is not a zoo or safari park.

At Vantara, Mahadevi now walks unchained and receives specialized treatments such as hydrotherapy. For the first time in decades, she has the freedom to simply be an elephant, learning how to socialize, explore, and enjoy her natural instincts again. This transition symbolizes a shift from ownership to guardianship, from abuse to care, and from chains to sanctuary.

Vantara’s elephant care center is one of the largest sanctuaries for rehabilitated elephants, with over 250 rescued elephants. The elephants live in chain-free enclosures, forming natural herds and socializing freely. Vantara provides specialized veterinary care, including hydrotherapy and jacuzzi pools for elephants.

Mahadevi's deteriorating health, including Grade 4 arthritis, foot rot, overgrown nails, and damaged footpads, added urgency to her case. Despite this, the Math attempted to reclaim her. However, justice prevailed, and on July 28, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed the Math’s appeal, emphasizing that her transport to the sanctuary must prioritize her comfort and well-being.

While Mahadevi is settling into her new life at Vantara, some people in Kolhapur are demanding her return. Thousands participated in a silent march in Kolhapur, seeking her return from Vantara. Despite these efforts, Vantara officials have assured their cooperation while emphasizing that the High-Powered Committee deemed the facilities at Vantara essential for Mahadevi's recovery, as she suffers from foot rot, overgrown toenails, arthritis, and psychological trauma from long-term solitary captivity. Vantara offers hydrotherapy, expert veterinary care, and socialization with other elephants.

Mahadevi's story reflects India's evolving views on wildlife rights, legal interventions, and the emotional bonds between humans and animals. Regardless of whether she remains in Vantara or returns to Kolhapur, her journey will continue to inspire discussions on animal rights and human responsibilities. The true measure of this story lies in ensuring that Mahadevi lives a life of dignity, care, and emotional well-being, something every living being deserves.