People choosing a quiet march in Kolhapur 3. August 2025 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After a strong public opposition to the transfer of Kolhapur elephant to Vantary, the Mahashtra government (5th August 2025) decided to file a proposal for a review at the Supreme Court (SC) to bring the elephant, Madhuri/Mahadevi to Nandani Kolhapur.
After a high -level meeting at a high level of the main Minister Devendra Fadnavis, “The State Government will submit a proposal to a review in SC to bring it back from Vantara, an animal rescue center operated by Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.”
“In this application, we will also ask for the SC to appoint an independent committee that will explore this problem,” he said, adding that the government would make efforts in all legal means to bring it back.
This step comes after extensive protests across the district of Kolhapur in the district of Sangli, where the villagers showed against Madhuri’s transfer from Svastishi Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacarya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt. The protests included the signature campaign “Boycott Jio and Reliance Products”, where more than two lake signatures against the transfer were sent to President Draupadi Murmum and the gathering from Tapani to Kolhapur, which covered approximately 40 km.
Mr. Fadnavis said that the government will create a team that includes a veterinarian to provide Madhuri as soon as he returns and establishes a rescue center if necessary.
The protests began after the villagers farewell to Madhuri 30 July after the decision of the Supreme Court in Mumbai, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court, ordered the rehabilitation of the “grim” elephant in Vantar, based on the petition of people for ethical treatment of animals (PETA).
Former MP Raja Shetti claimed that Peta “steal” elephants and forces people to break their cultural standards. “Peta said the government and the court. We have a rehabilitation center in the district of Gadchiroli, Karnataka and Keraral. However, we can do their fraud in the coming days. However, until then we will take our Ban Jio movement throughout the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Congress MLC Satej Patil said, “We have no choice but to submit a petition in SC, because the High Energy Committee (HPC) has decided on the forest department report and SC approved it.
Published – 5th August 2025 22:28
