Jain Monastery In Kolhapur Opposes Sending Elephant To 'Vantara' In Gujarat

Mumbai: A Jain Monestry has opposed the shifting of elephant Madhuri alias Mahadevi to Vantara in Gujarat. The Bombay High Court has reserved its verdict on July 4 on whether to shift the elephant to Gujarat or not on a fresh plea by the Monestry, which was filed in 2025. The verdict was reserved by a bench comprising Justices Revati Mohitre and Dr Nita Gokhale.

The elephant has been with the Jain monastery 'Swatishree Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha' in Kolhapur for 33 years. The Monestry in 2024 had also challenged the decision of the high powered committee to relocate the elephant to Gujarat.

The decision by the high powered committee in 2023 was taken following a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organisation.

The elephant is now emotionally connected to villagers residing in the Kolhapur district and the Karnataka border. PETA alleged that no proper care was taken.

The monestry in their earlier plea contended that the committee did not hear their views. At that time Justice Atul Chandurkar had said that the committee should hear the views of the Jain Monestry before coming to a decision. Justice Chandurkar had then dismissed the plea.

After this, the committee formed a sub-committe. This sub-committe had once again medically examined the elephant and made some recommendations, which were followed by the Monestry. The elephant was medically reexamined once again.

However, the committee decided to hand over the elephant to Vantara Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust. The trust once again filed an plea in the High Court against this decision in 2025. The Monestry contended that it is connected with 743 villages. It also said that it takes proper care of the elephant.