‘Didn’t initiate or recommend the relocation’: Vantara offers to set up rescue centre for elephant Madhuri in Kolhapur

In a statement, the animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre established by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation said the decision to relocate Madhuri was taken under judicial authority, and its role was to provide care, veterinary support, and housing as an independent rescue and rehabilitation centre.

“At no stage did Vantara initiate or recommend the relocation, nor was there any intent to interfere with religious practice or sentiment,” it said in the statement.

According to the statement, Vantara would work in “close coordination with the Jain Matha and the state government to establish a satellite rehabilitation centre” for Madhuri, who is also known as Mahadevi. “The proposed facility will be developed in accordance with the established animal welfare guidelines, after consultation with experts from the high-powered Committee and consensus of the Matha, while aligned to international best practices in elephant care,” the statement read.

Vantara also said the land for setting up the proposed facility will be identified in consultation with the Jain Matha and the Maharashtra Government, and after it receives the necessary grants and permissions, its team will begin implementation in close coordination with relevant authorities.

Special facilities for Madhuri elephant

It added that the proposed centre will include a specialised hydrotherapy pond for joint and muscular relief, a second larger water body for swimming and natural movement, laser therapy and treatment room for physical rehabilitation, a covered night shelter for rest and protection, and a lush open space habitat for unrestricted movement without chains for the animal.

It would also include a sand pit for environmental enrichment and natural behaviours, a fully equipped on-site veterinary clinic for round-the-clock medical care, a rubberised flooring platform for safe and comfortable resting, carefully formed mounds of soft sand to support sloped resting positions, aiding recovery from foot rot, relieving pressure from arthritis, and reducing stress on joints.

Madhuri was relocated to Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust last week following a court ruling.

The Bombay High Court on July 16 ordered that Madhuri be rehabilitated at Vantara’s facility in Jamnagar, after an NGO raised concerns with the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Supreme Court appointed a high-powered Committee on her deteriorated health and psychological suffering. The Supreme Court on July 25 upheld the HC order.

Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in a ‘silent march’ in Kolhapur on August 3, demanding that Madhuri be brought back from the Vantara facility.

On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Maharashtra Government may file a review petition in the Supreme Court along with the Nandani Math to expedite the return of the elephant. Fadnavis urged the Nandani Math to include the government as a party to the petition.