Kolhapur's Silent March: A Call for Mahadevi's Return

Thousands of Kolhapur residents took part in a silent march on Sunday, advocating for the return of Mahadevi, a 36-year-old elephant, from the Vantara wildlife center in Gujarat.

Former MP Raju Shetty led the demonstration which began in the morning from Nandani and ended at the district collectorate. There, a memorandum was submitted to authorities demanding Mahadevi's return.

The Bombay High Court had ruled for Mahadevi's transfer to the wildlife facility due to her deteriorating health and alleged psychological distress, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court. However, local activists and politicians are pushing for her return to Kolhapur, claiming community ownership of the elephant.

(With inputs from agencies.)