Jumbo journey as Indian elephant set to return home
The story of the 36-year-old elephant called Madhuri reflects both the passion that some communities have for elephants in India — and the mind-boggling scale of the self-declared 'world's biggest wild animal rescue center.'
The elephant spent her adult life at a Jain monastery in Kolhapur in Maharashtra state — where campaigners from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said she experienced 'cruel and bleak living conditions.'
The often chained animal killed a monk in the temple in 2017 when she lashed out in frustration, and a court in 2024 ordered she be rehabilitated after a complex legal battle.
Madhuri was taken more than 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) to the Vantara Animal Rescue Center, run by Anant Ambani, son of the billionaire head of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, arriving in July.
Vantara is a vast operation that includes more than 200 elephants, as well as more than 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles.
It was also among the many venues for Anant Ambani's lavish multi-day wedding celebrations in 2024, parties that set a new benchmark in matrimonial extravagance — including private performances by R&B star Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Elephants taken to the zoo are usually transported by road in 'elephant ambulances' — specially adapted trucks — accompanied by a large team including vets.
Vantara said Madhuri was given veterinary care, and space to roam alongside other elephants.
Activists offered a rubberised 'anti-cruelty' mechanical elephant model to the monastery as a replacement.
But thousands marched on Sunday in Kolhapur demanding the real elephant be returned.
Vantara on Wednesday offered a solution, acknowledging the 'deep religious and cultural significance' that the elephant holds.
It proposed to house the elephant at a special rehabilitation center near the temple — which would include pools to ease the elephant's arthritis and open spaces.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said in a statement that he had 'good news' that Vantara would join a court petition 'for the smooth passage of the elephant Madhuri back.'
Vantara said that, subject to court approval, it 'will provide complete technical and veterinary assistance for her safe and dignified return.'
PETA says the more than 2,700 captive elephants in India often face 'severe physical and psychological stress.'
When the herd animals are not chained up, they are used in temple ceremonies, paraded through packed crowds with flashing lights and ear-splitting music.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
5 days ago
- Arab News
Jumbo journey as Indian elephant set to return home
NEW DELHI: An Indian elephant taken on an epic journey to a tycoon's giant zoo is expected to return home after protests by the religious community she came from, officials said Wednesday, following a court battle over the animal's welfare at the temple. The story of the 36-year-old elephant called Madhuri reflects both the passion that some communities have for elephants in India — and the mind-boggling scale of the self-declared 'world's biggest wild animal rescue center.' The elephant spent her adult life at a Jain monastery in Kolhapur in Maharashtra state — where campaigners from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said she experienced 'cruel and bleak living conditions.' The often chained animal killed a monk in the temple in 2017 when she lashed out in frustration, and a court in 2024 ordered she be rehabilitated after a complex legal battle. Madhuri was taken more than 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) to the Vantara Animal Rescue Center, run by Anant Ambani, son of the billionaire head of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, arriving in July. Vantara is a vast operation that includes more than 200 elephants, as well as more than 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles. It was also among the many venues for Anant Ambani's lavish multi-day wedding celebrations in 2024, parties that set a new benchmark in matrimonial extravagance — including private performances by R&B star Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Elephants taken to the zoo are usually transported by road in 'elephant ambulances' — specially adapted trucks — accompanied by a large team including vets. Vantara said Madhuri was given veterinary care, and space to roam alongside other elephants. Activists offered a rubberised 'anti-cruelty' mechanical elephant model to the monastery as a replacement. But thousands marched on Sunday in Kolhapur demanding the real elephant be returned. Vantara on Wednesday offered a solution, acknowledging the 'deep religious and cultural significance' that the elephant holds. It proposed to house the elephant at a special rehabilitation center near the temple — which would include pools to ease the elephant's arthritis and open spaces. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said in a statement that he had 'good news' that Vantara would join a court petition 'for the smooth passage of the elephant Madhuri back.' Vantara said that, subject to court approval, it 'will provide complete technical and veterinary assistance for her safe and dignified return.' PETA says the more than 2,700 captive elephants in India often face 'severe physical and psychological stress.' When the herd animals are not chained up, they are used in temple ceremonies, paraded through packed crowds with flashing lights and ear-splitting music.
Arab News
01-08-2025
- Arab News
Sierra Leone chimp refuge shuts doors to tourists to protest deforestation
FREETOWN: The eco-lodges and tree-covered footpaths of West Africa's largest chimpanzee refuge have been devoid of tourists for more than two months as its founder stages a protest about rampant deforestation in Sierra Leone. Authorities acknowledge that the country's rich wildlife is threatened by land seizures and illegal logging, but the founder of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Bala Amarasekaran, says they have not yet done enough about it to convince him to reopen to visitors. 'A few months back, we could see the land grabbing and the encroachment coming closer to the sanctuary,' Amarasekaran said at the refuge, which is home to more than 100 mainly orphaned chimps and normally lets guests stay in its lodges. '(Deforestation) is really threatening the sanctuary's existence, because it's too dangerous when people come close to a wildlife preserve like this,' said Amarasekaran, who founded the refuge 30 years ago and has led it through crises including civil war and the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic. Sierra Leone lost approximately 2.17 million hectares (5.36 million acres) of tree cover between 2001 and 2024, representing about 39 percent of the total in 2000, according to online tracker Global Forest Watch. The Western Area Peninsula, home to the capital Freetown and Tacugama, lost more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of tree cover during that same period. Amarasekaran said deforestation in the area was fueled by 'land grabbing' for development. The consequences of rapid deforestation were highlighted by a mudslide on the slopes of Mount Sugar Loaf in 2017 that killed an estimated 1,000 people. A 2019 paper published by the Geological Society of London blamed the incident on a mix of heavy rain, deforested slopes and unchecked construction. It said tree loss had weakened the soil's ability to absorb water and hold together, worsening the mudflow. 'It's a serious problem, an existential problem,' Sierra Leone's Information Minister Chernor Bah said. 'We regret that the Tacugama authorities have taken the step that they have taken to shut down here, but it's one that we understand.' Amarasekaran said President Julius Maada Bio's government had dispatched a task force to conduct some raids on illegal logging operations, but complained about a lack of follow-up operations. Bah said the government was committed to protecting the peninsula's forests.
Arab News
27-07-2025
- Arab News
Crowd surge at Hindu temple in northern India leaves at least 6 dead
LUCKNOW: A crowd surge at a popular Hindu temple in northern India left at least six people dead and dozens injured, local authorities said Sunday. The incident in the pilgrimage city of Haridwar occurred after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd of devotees. Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand state where the incident happened, confirmed the deaths and said worshippers scrambled for safety following the incident. Some 29 people were injured, according to Haridwar city's senior police official Pramendra Singh Doval. Thousands of pilgrims had gathered at the Mansa Devi hilltop temple, which is a major site for Hindu devotees, especially on weekends and festival days, local officials said. They were celebrating the holy month of Shravan. Someone in the crowd shouted about an electric current on the pathway around 9am. 'Since the path is narrow and meant only for foot traffic, confusion and panic spread instantly,' said local priest Ujjwal Pandit. 'A wall along the path is also suspected to have worsened the crowd bottleneck,' he added. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, officials said. 'The situation is now under control,' Pandey told the Associated Press by phone from Haridwar. 'But the panic led to tragic consequences.' Authorities are investigating what caused the overhead wire to collapse, and whether proper crowd management protocols were in place. The town of Haridwar draws millions of visitors each year. The Mansa Devi temple, which is accessible by cable car or foot, is a major pilgrimage site that draws thousands of visitors daily during Shravan. Crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive groups often congregate at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post and wished for a fast recovery for those who were injured.
