Vantara animal rescue centre to get 2 new elephants, will be transferred from ISKCON, Mayapur
The announcement of the transfer of the two elephants from ISKCON to Vantara was made by Reliance Industries Limited on Monday.

Two cow elephants from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur, near Kolkata, are set to be transferred to Vantara, the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre of the Reliance Group, in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The transfer follows an incident last April when one of the two elephants fatally attacked her mahout.
The two elephants are 18-year-old Bishnupriya and 26-year-old Lakshmipriya. ISKCON Mayapur has been keeping Lakshmipriya since 2007 and Bishnupriya since 2010, using them for temple rituals and various festive occasions.
The announcement of the transfer was made by Reliance Industries Limited in an official release on Monday.
As per the release, the transfer project has received full approval of the Supreme Court of India.
“At Vantara, Bishnupriya and Lakshmipriya will settle into a permanent home thoughtfully designed to replicate an elephant’s natural habitat. This chain-free environment will provide expert veterinary care, including psychological evaluations and treatments rooted in positive reinforcement training – building trust through rewards and non-coercive methods,” the release said.

“They will also benefit from engaging in enrichment activities, opportunities to socialise and bond with other elephants, and the compassionate attention of their caretakers, all of which are essential for them to thrive,” it added.
The release further added, “Vantara’s state-of-the-art facilities, which includes the world’s largest elephant hospital, are designed to offer personalized mental health support through positive reinforcement training, stimulating enrichments, and opportunities for social interaction that mimic their natural environment. This holistic approach ensures that rescued elephants not only regain their physical strength but also achieve emotional stability and mental well-being, embodying Vantara’s commitment to their full rejuvenation and improved quality of life.”