Kolhapur, India, August 5: Tens of thousands of people marched silently through Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district on Sunday, demanding the return of a temple elephant, Mahadevi, who was recently relocated to a wildlife rescue facility run by Vantara, an initiative backed by billionaire Anant Ambani and supported by Reliance Industries.
The 36-year-old elephant, also known as Madhuri, was transferred last month following a Bombay High Court ruling which cited long-standing neglect and abuse, including medical issues and solitary confinement. The decision came after multiple inspections and a formal complaint by animal rights group PETA.
Led by former MP and farmer leader Raju Shetty, the 45-kilometre march from Nandani to the Kolhapur Collectorate drew over 30,000 people from neighbouring districts. Protesters submitted a memorandum demanding Mahadevi’s return and called for a boycott of Reliance Jio. Organisers claimed over 150,000 users had already ported out of the telecom network.
“This is a conspiracy to seize temple elephants,” said Shetty, accusing PETA and Vantara of targeting religious institutions. “Mahadevi was taken away in tears — despite being one among over 200 elephants at the Vantara facility, they singled her out because she’s beautiful,” he said.
The Bombay High Court on July 16 had rejected a petition by a Jain religious institution, which owned Mahadevi since 1992. Expert reports had found the elephant suffering from foot rot, ulcerated wounds, overgrown nails, and psychological distress. The court called the temple’s medical claims “cursory” and sided with the recommendation to relocate her to Vantara’s centre in Gujarat.
Despite the court’s ruling — later upheld by the Supreme Court — local opposition has grown, with over 200,000 signatures collected demanding her return. BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik has also raised the matter with India’s environment ministry.
In a detailed statement, Vantara said it had played no role in initiating the elephant’s transfer and was named as the recipient by the Ministry of Environment’s High Powered Committee based on its welfare capabilities. “It is regrettable that a campaign of misinformation is being run to vilify Vantara, despite full legal closure,” the NGO said, adding that it merely followed court orders.
The facility claimed Mahadevi had been used in public processions and commercial activities for years, often without legal permissions. The NGO also pointed to a 2017 incident where Mahadevi fatally injured a priest, raising concerns about safety and welfare.
The matter is scheduled for compliance reporting before the Supreme Court on August 11.
