Guwahati, June 24 -- A 48-year-old female elephant from Assam's Tinsukia district has been transported to Vantara, a privately run wildlife facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, after state authorities approved her transfer for long-term medical care.

The relocation has drawn renewed attention not only to the prolonged suffering of an elephant named Maniki but also to the continuing debate surrounding the movement of captive elephants from Assam to Vantara, a facility promoted by industrialist Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, that has previously faced criticism from activists and conservationists over the acquisition of elephants from the Northeast.

Maniki's plight came into public focus in August last year after a video showing her...