Vantara to rehabilitate ISKCON Mayapur's two elephants in Jamnagar

This transfer comes after an incident, which took place last April, when one of the two elephants fatally attacked her mahout

Vantara, an animal rescue and rehabilitation organization, will provide lifelong care and support to two elephants, 18-year-old Bishnupriya and 26-year-old Lakshmipriya, who are currently at International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur near Kolkata.

Vantara is a state-of-the-art animal rehabilitation organization in Jamnagar founded by Anant Ambani, a philanthropist and a director on various firms of the Reliance group.

This transfer comes after an incident, that took place last April, when Bishnupriya fatally attacked her mahout. This highlighted the urgent need for specialized care and a more suitable environment for their well-being.

The transfer project, initiated by Vantara in partnership with ISKCON, has received full approval from a high-powered committee, constituted by the Tripura High Court and affirmed by the Supreme Court, which is entrusted with rescuing and ensuring safe, stress-free environments for wild animals in distress.

At Vantara, Bishnupriya and Lakshmipriya will settle into a permanent home which has been thoughtfully designed to replicate their natural habitat. The chain-free environment at Vantara will provide expert veterinary care, including psychological evaluations and treatments rooted in positive reinforcement training—building trust through rewards and non-coercive methods.

The two cow elephants will also benefit from engaging enrichment activities, opportunities to socialize and bond with other elephants at the animal rescue and rehabilitation organization and the compassionate attention of their caretakers, all of which are essential for them to thrive.

ISKCON Mayapur has kept Lakshmipriya since 2007 and Bishnupriya since 2010. They were used for temple rituals and various festival occasions.

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