Elephant Madhuri Set to Return to Kolhapur After Nearly a Year at Vantara
Kolhapur, 18th June 2026: After spending nearly a year at Vantara wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Gujarat, Madhuri, the elephant at the centre of a prolonged legal and public controversy, is set to return to her home in Nandini village of Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district.
Vantara, the Reliance Foundation-run animal rescue centre where the 36-year-old elephant had been housed since July last year, announced on Tuesday that Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, has recovered significantly and is now fit to return. The organisation said the elephant had undergone extensive medical care and rehabilitation during her stay at the facility.
Madhuri was relocated to Gujarat in July 2025 following directions from the Bombay High Court, which upheld a recommendation of a High-Powered Committee that found her physical and psychological well-being had been compromised at the ‘Nandini Math’ where she had lived for decades. The court held that the animal’s welfare must take precedence over its use in religious activities. The Supreme Court later declined to interfere with the order.
The elephant was shifted to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, operated by Vantara, on July 28, 2025. The move sparked widespread protests across Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts, with thousands participating in demonstrations demanding her return. Residents of Nandini village also organised protest marches and voiced opposition to the relocation.
The issue soon acquired political overtones, with local leaders, community groups and religious organisations backing the demand for Madhuri’s return. Amid mounting public pressure, Vantara announced plans in August 2025 to establish a dedicated elephant rescue and rehabilitation facility in Nandini, a move that paved the way for her eventual return to Maharashtra.
According to Vantara, the proposed centre will include specialised veterinary and rehabilitation infrastructure such as hydrotherapy facilities, treatment units, sheltered housing and open spaces designed to allow elephants to move freely.
The organisation said a team of veterinarians, caregivers, nutritionists and wildlife experts had worked closely with Madhuri over the past year to improve her health and prepare her for the next phase of her rehabilitation.
