PUNE, July 30 -- Following the Supreme Court's dismissal of a writ petition by the Kolhapur-based Jain math challenging the relocation of its 36-year-old elephant Mahadevi, the pachyderm was shifted to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust run by Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, late on Monday. The transfer was carried out under tight security and with the direct involvement of forest officials. Earlier, the Bombay high court's July 16 order had upheld the elephant's right to dignified treatment and specialised care. The apex court on Monday refused to stay the Bombay HC directive, observing-according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India-that "sentiments of devotees cannot override the fundamental right of an animal to health and dignified care". The official order is still awaited. Initially, the transfer plan had met with opposition from locals. When the Vantara team and forest department officials arrived at the math in Kolhapur, some locals reportedly pelted stones in protest. Police intervention helped diffuse the situation. After the initial tension, the crowd eventually gave Mahadevi an emotional farewell. "She is expected to reach the Jamnagar facility by July 30," confirmed a spokesperson of PETA India, which had argued for Mahadevi's transfer. Dhairyasheel Patil, deputy conservator of forests, Kolhapur, said, "As per court directions, the forest department issued the necessary permissions and ensured a safe transfer. We had assessed Mahadevi's fitness for travel prior to the move." When asked why she was being sent to a Gujarat-based facility, Khushboo Gupta, director of advocacy projects at PETA India, said, "The decision was taken by a High-Powered Committee (HPC) that includes a retired Supreme Court judge, elephant welfare experts, and senior forest officials from both the state and central governments. The decision is rooted in expert assessments of her physical and mental health." According to official inspections, Mahadevi suffers from foot rot, overgrown toenails, arthritis and stereotypic behaviours such as constant head-bobbing, a sign of psychological trauma due to long-term solitary captivity. The Vantara facility offers hydrotherapy, expert veterinary care and socialisation with other elephants, which the HPC deemed essential for her recovery. Gupta added, "She will no longer be kept in chains or subjected to weapons." Mahadevi was reportedly brought from Karnataka to the Kolhapur math in 1992 when she was around three years old. While the temple claims she came from a Shivamogga village, PETA said there was no proof of legal ownership or documentation of transfer. The math authorities had even applied for an ownership certificate from the Maharashtra forest department, but it was never granted. The elephant's plight first drew legal attention after she allegedly killed the chief priest of the math in December 2017. Between 2012 and 2023, she was allegedly transported at least 13 times across Maharashtra for religious processions-including Muharram and Bonalu-without proper permissions, in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. In October 2023, PETA filed a complaint before the HPC, citing violations under Section 48A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the failure of caretakers to ensure her welfare. After a year-long process involving inspections and hearings, the HPC ordered her transfer in June 2025. The Bombay high court upheld the order on July 16, directing the authorities to complete the relocation by July 30. The math filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court on July 22, but the plea was rejected on July 28, paving the way for her transfer....