Mahadevi, a 36-year-old elephant, is going back to her home at Nandani Math in Kolhapur from Vantara, a wildlife care centre in Gujarat.

On Wednesday morning, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared that the state government and Vantara will work together to care for Mahadevi, also lovingly known as Madhuri.

Fadnavis posted on X (formerly Twitter), “During the discussion, Vantara management told me that they only acted in compliance with the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order and had no intention of taking custody of Mahadevi the elephant on their own.”

He also said, “Vantara has also expressed willingness to fully assist the State Government in setting up a rehabilitation centre for Mahadevi near Nandani Math in Kolhapur district, at a location selected by the Forest Department.”

Mahadevi had lived at the Shri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Jain Math in Nandani for over 30 years. She was moved to Vantara’s Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust last week after a court order.

On July 16, the Bombay High Court directed that Mahadevi be shifted to Vantara for better care, after an NGO and a Supreme Court committee raised concerns about her health. The Supreme Court confirmed this order on July 25.

In response, thousands of people in Kolhapur held a silent march on Sunday, asking for Mahadevi’s return.

Now, with full support from the government and Vantara, she may soon come back home.

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