Madhuri Elephant Row: The shifting of a 36-year-old elephant, Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, created a huge outrage in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur. For decades, the elephant has been an integral part of deep-rooted spiritual practices and community life at the Jain Math. The big animal has been living at the Nandani Math, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, for the last 34 years, but now, a stir has been triggered after a court order to rehabilitate it to Vantara (an animal rescue, care, and rehabilitation) at Motikhavdi village in Jamnagar district, Gujarat.
What Is The Issue?
It all started after an NGO complained to the forest department and the SC-appointed committee about Madhuri’s deteriorating health and psychological suffering. On July 16, the Bombay High Court ordered the elephant to be rehabilitated at Vantara’s facility after an NGO flagged concerns.
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No Stay From The Supreme Court
The math challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, but the SC on July 25 upheld the HC order, after which the elephant was shifted from Nandani to Vantara.
Protests Over Madhuri’s Shifting
On Sunday, thousands of locals walked in a silent protest from Nandani to the district collectorate, urging authorities to bring back the elephant to the Jain math.
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Vantara Clarified Its Stand
Vantara, the Jamnagar-based animal rehabilitation centre, on Wednesday proposed to work in close coordination with the Maharashtra Government and the Jain math to establish a satellite rehabilitation centre for elephant Madhuri (also called Mahadevi) at Nandani in Kolhapur district. Vantara team said that they are acting only on the orders of the Supreme Court and had no intention to grab the custody of Madhuri.
In a statement, Vantara said it proposes to work in close coordination with the Jain math and the state government to establish a satellite rehabilitation centre for Madhuri in the Nandani area. The proposed facility will be developed in accordance to the established animal welfare guidelines, after consultation with experts from the high-powered committee and consensus of the math, while aligned to international best practices in elephant care, Vantara said. Vantara acknowledges the deep religious and cultural significance that Madhuri holds for the Jain math and the people of Kolhapur. For decades, she has been an integral part of deep-rooted spiritual practices and community life, it said.
The decision to relocate Madhuri from Nandani was taken under judicial authority, and Vantara’s role was to provide care, veterinary support, and housing as an independent rescue and rehabilitation centre, it said. Subject to court approval, Vantara will provide complete technical and veterinary assistance for her safe and dignified return, the statement said.
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis’s Intervention
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had an extensive discussion with Vantara team in Mumbai earlier in the day, said the team assured him that they are happy to join the state government’s petition before the Supreme Court for the smooth passage of the elephant back to the math.
Rescue Centre On Periphery Of Math for Madhuri: CM
Fadnavis told reporters at Vaijapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district that a rescue centre will be built on the periphery of the Nandani math for Madhuri, with facilities recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee. We have also spoken to the people of Vantara and sought their support for this. They have agreed to it,” the chief minister said.
(With PTI inputs)