A video from Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra procession has gone viral, showing elephants in visible distress as they broke formation and ran through the crowd after being startled by the noise and commotion. The incident has sparked renewed concern over the use of animals in large, high-stress public events.
Among the first responders was Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation project backed by Anant Ambani. Their rapid deployment team, including wildlife vets, mahouts, and support staff, coordinated with the officials to provide urgent medical care, behavioural support, and relocation assistance for the affected elephants.
Dr. K Ramesh (IFS), Chief Conservator of Forest, Gujarat stated that “Following the recent incident involving elephant unrest during the Rath Yatra, we reached out to Vantara for immediate support. Their team responded swiftly from Jamnagar and coordinated with local authorities and animal handlers to arrange for their relocation for better care.”
The Jagannath Temple Management also acknowledged the effort ”Vantara displayed a great commitment to ensuring these elephants receive the medical attention and rehabilitation they urgently need” said Mahendra Jha, Trustee, Shree Jagannath Mandir Trust Committee
Eyewitness clips depict the elephants frightened and unmanageable amid the festive chaos. Several social media users expressed outrage and demanded a more compassionate approach involving animals.
Online reactions included comments like: “This is distressing those innocent animals, who are subjected to this cruelty.” Others questioned the continued use of live elephants in events known for overwhelming crowds and noise.
Animal welfare advocates have long emphasised the need for rehabilitation spaces like Vantara, which offers permanent care to elephants rescued from exploitation.
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