Fri Aug 01 12:10:46 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

A 36-year-old female elephant named Mahadevi was relocated from a mutt in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, to an animal welfare facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This move followed a Supreme Court dismissal of a petition by the mutt, challenging a Bombay High Court order that upheld a High Powered Committee’s decision. The High Court prioritized the elephant’s well-being, citing poor health and living conditions at the mutt. Villagers gave Mahadevi an emotional farewell.

**News Article:**

**Emotional Farewell as Elephant Mahadevi Relocated to Gujarat Animal Welfare Facility**

**Pune, August 1, 2025:** Tears flowed as residents of Nandani village in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, bid farewell to Mahadevi, a 36-year-old female elephant, on Monday evening. The beloved tusker was relocated to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, Gujarat, a facility run by Vantara, an animal welfare center, after a lengthy legal battle.

The move follows a Supreme Court decision to dismiss a petition filed by the Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha, the religious body that housed Mahadevi. The petition challenged an earlier ruling by the Bombay High Court, which had affirmed the High Powered Committee’s (HPC) decision to relocate the elephant.

The High Court emphasized the importance of prioritizing the elephant’s welfare, noting that Mahadevi’s physical and mental health had suffered while residing at the Kolhapur mutt. A June 2024 report detailed dismal conditions, including decubital ulcerated wounds and inadequate care.

“An elephant’s right to a quality life must take precedence,” the High Court stated in its July 16 ruling.

The initial transfer order stemmed from a complaint filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India regarding the elephant’s condition. While the Kolhapur-based trust argued that Mahadevi had been in their possession since 1992 and played a role in religious traditions, the courts ultimately sided with the elephant’s well-being.

Mahadevi is expected to arrive at the Jamnagar facility on Wednesday in a specialized animal ambulance. Villagers, who had formed a strong bond with the elephant over the years, turned out in large numbers to say goodbye, marking a bittersweet moment for the community.

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