The story of Mahadevi-Madhuri is not just about an elephant’s journey from chains to freedom—it’s a deeply emotional account of injustice, resilience, and finally, hope. For 33 long years, Mahadevi—also known as Madhuri—lived a life of pain, isolation, and cruelty, before she finally found sanctuary at Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar.
A Childhood Lost to Captivity
Mahadevi’s tragedy began at the tender age of just three years. Taken away from her mother—likely in Karnataka—she was transported to the Jain Math in Nandani village, Kolhapur. There, instead of playing in the forest and bonding with other elephants, she was confined to a concrete shed, chained and alone.
While most people experience milestones in life—school, college, marriage, or children—Mahadevi spent all those decades in solitary confinement. No social interaction, no soft soil beneath her feet, no freedom. Instead, she was shackled, beaten, and forced to take part in temple rituals and noisy processions. She was even used for begging in villages, controlled by an ankush—a sharp hooked iron rod.
Years of Exploitation and Trauma
The story of Mahadevi-Madhuri is filled with heartbreaking details. Despite being an intelligent and sensitive creature, she was treated as a source of income. Over the years, the Math exploited her in multiple ways:
- Children were made to sit in her trunk for money.
- She was paraded through crowded streets, bound tightly with ropes around her belly.
- Her physical and mental suffering was ignored.
In 2017, the unimaginable happened—years of frustration and trauma led Mahadevi to fatally attack the Math’s chief priest. This tragic incident is a stark reminder that elephants, when kept in unnatural and cruel conditions, often break down emotionally and psychologically.
Even then, instead of addressing the root cause, the temple trustees considered shifting her to a zoo. Former MP Shri Raju Shetti eventually recognized her plight and met with PETA India, lending his support for her rehabilitation.
Illegal Transportation and Continued Abuse
Between 2012 and 2023, Mahadevi was illegally transported at least 13 times across state borders for various processions. Her suffering was not only prolonged but monetized—she had become a revenue-generating tool for the Math.
In 2022–2023, she was taken to Telangana to participate in Muharram processions. This led to a turning point. On 30 July 2023, the Telangana Forest Department seized her for violating Section 48A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. She was officially declared seized government property and handed over to the Maharashtra Forest Department.
A Long Road to Justice
Mahadevi’s deteriorating health added urgency to her case. She suffered from Grade 4 arthritis, foot rot, overgrown nails, and damaged footpads due to standing on concrete for decades. Despite this, the Math attempted to reclaim her.
But justice prevailed.
On 20 June 2024, Maharashtra’s Chief Wildlife Warden formally recommended to the Supreme Court’s High-Powered Committee that Mahadevi be rehabilitated. Finally, on 28 July 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court dismissed the Math’s appeal against transferring her custody. The court emphasized that her transport to the sanctuary must prioritize her comfort and well-being.
Resistance and Violence
Unfortunately, even after the Supreme Court order, the situation became dangerous. When the rescue team from PETA India and Vantara arrived to relocate Mahadevi, they were attacked. Mobs hurled hundreds of stones, seriously injuring a PETA India staff member, who suffered a rib fracture.
But despite the aggression, compassion won.
A New Beginning at Vantara
On 30 July 2025, Mahadevi finally arrived at Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar—a safe haven where she can live free from abuse, surrounded by other elephants, cared for by top veterinarians.
She now walks unchained, receives specialised treatments such as hydrotherapy, and for the first time in decades, has the freedom to simply be an elephant. She is learning how to socialize, explore, and enjoy her natural instincts again.
This transition is more than symbolic. It represents the transformation from ownership to guardianship, from abuse to care, from chains to sanctuary.
Also read: A Graceful Journey Begins Madhuri Gets a Grand Welcome at Vantara Zoo
A Call for Ethical Alternatives
In a progressive move, PETA India and the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) have each offered a mechanical elephant to the Jain Math. These can be used for rituals and ceremonies—without harming a real elephant. They urge all religious institutions to adopt humane and compassionate practices, replacing live elephants with mechanical ones, ensuring dignity for animals and safety for humans.
Conclusion
The story of Mahadevi-Madhuri is a powerful reminder that freedom is a right, not a privilege—whether human or animal. Her journey from a lonely concrete shed to the green fields of Vantara speaks volumes about the power of empathy, perseverance, and legal action.
As she begins her new life, we are left with a question: how many more elephants must endure decades of silent suffering before society chooses compassion over tradition?
