In July, the Bombay High Court ordered the elephant to be moved to the Vantara rescue centre in Gujarat.
Amid an emotional and politically charged controversy surrounding the relocation of elephant Mahadevi, also called Madhuri, officials from Reliance Industries’ animal rescue centre, Vantara, have indicated their willingness to return the elephant, provided legal procedures are met. On Friday, Vantara’s senior officials met with Kolhapur guardian minister and Maharashtra’s Health Minister, Prakash Abitkar, to discuss the way forward following massive local resistance in Shirol taluka.
The dispute started when the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) petitioned the Bombay High Court for the elephant's rehabilitation, claiming that it needed immediate medical attention. The elephant was housed in the Jain Mutt in the village of Nandini in Shirol taluka, a centuries-old Digambar Jain religious institution. The Bhattaraka Sri Jinasena Swamiji, head of the Mutt, and residents asserted that the elephant was a beloved and integral part of religious ceremonies, continuing a 600-year-old tradition.
In July, the Bombay High Court ordered the elephant to be moved to the Vantara rescue centre in Gujarat. The Supreme Court later upheld the decision. Following the ruling, Vantara dispatched a team to transport the elephant to their facility.
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Emotional scenes played out in the community on Wednesday as Vantara staff got ready to transfer the elephant. Videos showed Madhuri, dressed in ceremonial garb, being sadly bid away by Swamiji and the locals. The transfer van was physically obstructed by residents, making it impossible to remove her.
Outrage at the occurrence was widespread throughout Shirol and the surrounding districts. Raju Shetti, a Jain farmer leader and former MP, strongly objected to the move. He criticised the decision for ignoring local sentiments and cultural significance. “The move was done without considering the emotions of the local community,” he said.
Anger over the elephant’s removal quickly turned toward Reliance Industries, which runs the Vantara facility. A social media campaign urged locals to port out of Reliance JIO mobile connections. In a unique protest, a local telecom store offered a free coffee mug featuring an elephant image to every customer who switched from JIO to another network.
Acknowledging the public anger, Minister Abitkar convened a meeting on Friday that included Vantara officials, the Jain Mutt head, and community leaders. Vantara representatives stated they were open to returning Madhuri if proper legal procedures were followed.
