As Nearly 50 Temples Welcome Mechanical Elephants, Supreme Court Decision on Ailing Elephant Madhuri a Lost Opportunity for Animal Welfare

On behalf of elephants and elephant welfare supporters, PETA India expresses deep disappointment following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of its plea to restore ailing elephant Madhuri’s (also known as Mahadevi) rehabilitation at Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar, allowing her to remain alone in a bleak shed at Nandani Math in Kolhapur, from which she was previously removed following orders by the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee, the Bombay High Court, and the Supreme Court. PETA India considers the decision a lost opportunity to advance elephant welfare at a time when nearly 50 temples across India have embraced life-size mechanical elephants, demonstrating that religious traditions can be honoured without keeping intelligent, social wild animals in chains and captivity.

Madhuri being returned to the Kolhapur math in the midst of the loud bangs of fireworks

The decision means Madhuri, who spent 33 years in solitary confinement and chains at the math, will remain at a facility that a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) sub-committee itself found unsuitable for her long-term care. During her rehabilitation at RKTEWT, Madhuri had finally experienced freedom from chains, formed a close bond with another rescued elephant, Shanti, and received specialised veterinary treatment for serious and painful conditions, including arthritis, fractures, and chronic foot problems. Following her return to Kolhapur on 11–12 September, PETA India documented her being kept tethered alone in the same shed from which she had been removed, with paintings of trees on its walls in place of the natural surroundings she enjoyed at RKTEWT.

Elephants are highly intelligent, social animals, and females in particular naturally live in close-knit family groups, forming strong, enduring relationships. Social isolation can cause significant psychological distress, while chaining, prolonged standing on hard surfaces, and inadequate opportunities for exercise can contribute to debilitating physical problems. For an elephant already suffering from chronic joint and foot conditions, appropriate veterinary care, freedom of movement, access to natural surroundings and water, and opportunities to socialise are essential to physical and mental wellbeing.

The inspection of the math by the HPC sub-committee, which consisted of representatives of the HPC, the Central Zoo Authority and the Maharashtra Chief Wildlife Warden, identified inadequate opportunities for exercise and socialisation, high human interference, tar roads on Madhuri’s proposed walking route, difficulties accessing a perennial water source, a risk of water contamination, and inadequate specialised veterinary infrastructure. The report recorded that the math authorities themselves described the facility as being “purely for religious purposes” and acknowledged that “the rehabilitation needs are not being provided in the Math.”

A joint medical examination at RKTEWT in October 2025 documented Madhuri’s osteoarthritis, osteolysis, and multiple stress fractures, as well as her strong social bond with Shanti. In December, the HPC itself noted that medical opinion “strongly emphasizes continuity of care” and warned that relocating Madhuri could risk “regression or physical deterioration”. The HPC had originally ordered her permanent rehabilitation at RKTEWT on 3 June 2025, a decision subsequently upheld by the Bombay High Court on 16 July 2025 and the Supreme Court on 28 July 2025.

Across India, temples themselves are leading a compassionate transformation, embracing modern technology to preserve cherished religious traditions without exploiting live elephants. Nearly 50 temples have adopted life-size mechanical elephants, which can perform ceremonial functions without the suffering associated with captivity, chains, noisy processions, and separation from other elephants.

PETA India pledges to continue working to secure Madhuri’s permanent rehabilitation at a suitable elephant sanctuary where she can receive specialised veterinary treatment, freedom from chains, appropriate exercise, access to natural surroundings and water, and meaningful opportunities for elephant companionship.