After 33 Years Alone and in Chains, Disturbed Elephant Mahadevi Reaches Her New Sanctuary Home, Following PETA India Action
Disturbed 36-year-old female elephant Mahadevi (also called Madhuri), who has been in the custody of Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Math (Karvir) at Nandani village, has now arrived at Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar for a new life after spending 33 years alone and in chains. The move comes after Hon’ble Supreme Court of India upheld an order of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court to provide relief to Mahadevi who tragically killed the chief priest of the Math in 2017 by repeatedly slamming him against the wall. Despite this, due to the Jain Math’s refusal to release Mahadevi calmly per court order, locals were incited to hurl hundreds of rocks at the police, PETA India and RKTEWT staff, resulting in broken car windows, wounds and a PETA India staff member sustaining a serious rib injury.
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On 16 July 2025, Mahadevi was ordered to be rehabilitated at Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, following concerns raised by PETA India to the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Supreme Court appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) on her deteriorated health and psychological suffering. This order was upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 28 July 2025.
The order by the Apex Court was passed in an appeal filed by the Jain Math opposing the High Court order and seeking to retain custody of the elephant, despite Mahadevi’s arthritis and other severe health problems from spending most of her life on concrete. The Court dismissed the Math’s plea in favour of the elephant’s welfare and directed authorities to ensure that the elephant is transported to the sanctuary in a manner that prioritizes her comfort.
Elephants are intelligent, emotional beings who require a life without chains and an elephant family for their mental wellbeing. PETA India is grateful to the Supreme Court for recognising Mahadevi’s right to live the rest of her years free from pain, weapons, fear and isolation. We are immensely grateful to Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust for giving her the opportunity to finally experience life as an elephant should.
Mahadevi lived on the concrete floor of a shed at the Jain Bhattarak Math since she was just three years old. Independent veterinarians documented the elephant’s deteriorated health condition, including painful foot rot, overgrown nails and arthritis. Recognizing the elephant’s psychological distress in these conditions, the Bhattarak Math initially intended to rehabilitate her. However, their position shifted, as they began to rent her out for Muharram and other events.
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At Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, Mahadevi will live free from chains and weapons, and in the company of other elephants. She will also receive specialised veterinary care by world-class veterinarians, including hydrotherapy, to address her arthritic condition.
PETA India and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) have each offered a mechanical elephant to the Jain Math, for use in the temple rituals and encourage all temples to choose humane mechanical elephants in place of living elephants for animal welfare and human wellbeing.
