After being relocated to the Vantara Wildlife Centre in Gujarat for specialised care, elephant Mahadevi may now be sent back to the religious institution in Kolhapur from where she was rescued. The development comes amid growing pressure from local groups and emotional appeals for her return.
At Vantara, Mahadevi received dedicated care from a team of veterinarians, behaviourists, and caregivers. She was freed from chains, given open space to move, and provided species-appropriate nutrition. Under this expert care, she began to recover both physically and emotionally. Her treatment included care for a previously untreated fracture, proper grooming, and they also fixed her toenail that had caused her significant pain. She also received consistent emotional support to help her heal from past trauma. Despite this progress, Vantara is now being compelled to send her back, a decision that interrupts her recovery and raises serious concerns about her future.
In recent days, growing public unrest in Kolhapur has led to renewed calls for Mahadevi’s return to the mutt. As a result, according to reports, Vantara officials are forced to send her back to the mutt. The process of sending her back has begun, raising fresh concerns among animal welfare advocates.
Mahadevi was previously housed at the SwastiShri Jensen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha in Nandani village, Karvir tehsil of Kolhapur district. Her transfer took place recently after PETA raised concerns about her condition. Acting on these concerns, a high-powered committee recommended her relocation, a decision upheld by the Bombay High Court and later by the Supreme Court, which dismissed the mutt’s petition challenging it.
There are fears that Mahadevi, after returning to the mutt, may once again face confinement, with the possibility of being used for begging or ceremonial purposes. Advocates argue that such conditions undermine an animal’s right to live free from suffering and exploitation.
As the situation unfolds, many hope that Mahadevi’s wellbeing, her health, freedom, and dignity remain at the heart of all decisions.
The 29-year-old Anant Ambani, the younger son of Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, founded Vantara. The sanctuary is located within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat. “Vantara” is derived from Sanskrit, where “Van” means forest and “Tara” means savior or protector, translating into “Savior of the Forest” or “Protector of Wildlife.”
Vantara has also participated in rescue missions in countries like Mexico and Venezuela and is recognized for leading the world’s largest rescue operations for wildlife.
Established as a haven mirroring natural ecosystems, the sanctuary integrates cutting-edge veterinary care with large-scale conservation initiatives backed by one of the world’s largest business conglomerates.
As per officials, its state-of-the-art hospital—equipped with MRI, CT scans, specialized ICUs, and departments ranging from cardiology to wildlife anesthesia—has treated over 200,000 animals since its inception. The center also houses a neonatal ICU and specialized intensive care units (ICUs) for wildlife.
