A videograb of Mahadevi elephant
Mahadevi was handed to the Nandani math officials by Vantara officials at 5.30pm on Thursday A videograb of Mahadevi elephant Mahadevi was handed to the Nandani math officials by Vantara officials at 5.30pm on Thursday A videograb of Mahadevi elephant Kolhapur : Mahadevi (aka Madhuri), the elephant shifted to a rescue facility in Jamnagar a year ago amid controversy and public protests, is set to return to the Nandani Jain math in Kolhapur after a high-powered committee headed by retired Supreme Court justice Deepak Verma approved her transfer on Wednesday night. Following a medical examination at the Jamnagar facility, the elephant was handed over to math officials and began the journey to Kolhapur in an animal ambulance at around 5.30pm. The committee had constituted a joint committee on June 23 comprising its members, representatives of the Central Zoo Authority, Maharashtra govt and forest department to assess the math’s request. The committee was later tasked with inspecting the facilities at Nandani by Aug 5. It visited the math on Aug 10 and submitted its findings to the high-powered committee, paving the way for Wednesday’s decision.
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RKTEWT/Vantara is directed to hand over possession of the elephant to the math for the said purpose. “The elephant has left the facility and will be brought to Nandani in accordance with the guidelines issued by the HPC,” Patil said. Sagar Sambhushete, trustee and manager of the Jain math, said, “The dream and desire of people here to bring the elephant back to Nandani has finally been fulfilled. The animal rights organisation said only three months ago, veterinarians at the Jamnagar facility had reported that the elephant suffered from “severe chronic podiatric and orthopaedic conditions” and would require continued specialised treatment, supportive care and periodic monitoring for long-term recovery.
PETA India, however, expressed disappointment over the decision. Download the TOI App.
The development sparked celebrations in Nandani, where residents had been campaigning for Mahadevi’s return since her relocation last year. In its order issued on Wednesday night, the high-powered committee stated, “The petitioner math is directed to take possession of the elephant Madhuri and to transport her from Jamnagar to its facility at Nandani, Kolhapur, the said possession and transport being entirely at the risk and consequences of the math. The chief wildlife wardens of the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra are directed to carry out and complete all documentation, permissions and formalities necessary for the said transfer. ” The decision followed an online hearing on Wednesday, during which the math, officials from the Jamnagar facility and Maharashtra govt presented details of the facilities developed for the elephant at Nandani. Manoj Patil, counsel for the math, said all legal formalities were completed on Thursday. Our beloved elephant will arrive in Nandani on Friday.