Bombay High Court Orders Disturbed Elephant Mahadevi’s Rehabilitation to a Sanctuary—Upholding a High-Powered Committee of the Supreme Court’s Decision—Following PETA India Intervention
A 36-year old female elephant Mahadevi (also called as Madhuri) who has been in the custody of Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Math (Karvir) at Nandani village and who tragically killed the chief priest of the Math in 2017 by repeatedly slamming him against the wall, has been 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 High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the Supreme Court of India on her suffering.
Mahadevi has lived most of her life in chains on the concrete floor of a shed at the Jain Bhattarak Math. Independent veterinarians, including the HPC-appointed Sub-committee headed by Dr. N.S. Manoharan,former Maharashtra’s Additional principal chief conservator of forests, Dr.V.Clement Ben, Dr.Rakesh Chittora of Animal Rahat, have documented the elephant’s deteriorated health condition, including painful foot rot, overgrown nails and arthritis. Mahadevi’s psychological distress is also evident through stereotypic behaviours such as head-bobbing. It is well-recognised such abnormal behaviour, which is not found in wild elephants, means Mahadevi is anxious, distressed and disturbed from extreme loneliness, boredom and other bleak conditions in captivity.
“We have no doubt that the Petitioner-Math may have had no deliberate intent to cause injury to the elephant however, in the given circumstances of conflict between the rights of an elephant and the rights of Petitioner-Math to use the elephant in the discharge of its religious activities, priority must be given to the elephant’s welfare.” – The court order
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, including hydrotherapy, to address her arthritic condition.
No living being deserves isolation, chaining and being controlled with weapons, PETA India is grateful to the Bombay High Court for granting Mahadevi an opportunity to live the rest of her life safe and in the company of other elephants, and urges the organisers of religious ceremonies to opt for life-size robotic elephants instead.
Despite being a serious public safety risk, elephant Mahadevi was trained to roll young children in her trunk for monetary compensation to the mahout. Recognizing the elephant’s psychological distress in captivity, the Bhattarak Math initially intended to rehabilitate her. However, their position shifted, as they began to profit from renting the elephant for Muharram and other events. When used for various activities, she was forced into crowded situations, while being controlled with ropes and ankush weapons. A heavy howdah would often be put on her back despite her foot rot and arthritic condition. She was transported to Telangana without the mandatory permissions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, twice for Bonalu and Muharram processions.
