Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Vantara, the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, will support the state’s Supreme Court petition to bring back 36-year-old elephant Madhuri to a Kolhapur monastery. Madhuri, a beloved tusker at Shri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Jain ‘math’ in Nandani for over 30 years, was relocated to Vantara’s facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, following a Bombay High Court ruling on July 16, citing her declining health and psychological distress. The Supreme Court upheld this decision on July 25.

The relocation, prompted by an NGO’s concerns to the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee, sparked outrage in Kolhapur, with thousands joining a silent march on Sunday to demand Madhuri’s return. Vantara clarified it did not seek Madhuri’s custody but acted as the court-appointed facility.

In a meeting with Vantara’s team in Mumbai, Fadnavis shared on X that they agreed to join the state’s plea for Madhuri’s return to the monastery. The team emphasized they are following court orders and expressed willingness to establish a rehabilitation center near Nandani, as chosen by the state’s forest department. They also assured respect for the community’s religious sentiments, aiming to resolve the issue sensitively.

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