India’s best-loved elephant, Raju, is celebrating five years of freedom after spending fifty years confined to chains. He touched the world in 2014 when he was moved to tears after being rescued by a volunteers for charity who rescues wildlife in India called Wildlife SOS. 

Before his rescue, Raju spent five decades with his deplorable owner, who kept him illegally and used him a a pawn to beg for money. He was restrained by spiked chains and repeatedly hit with a bullhook, which left his thin, frail body covered in abscesses and scars. Years of abuse, mistreatment and inadequate care had left him sad and miserable.

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PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED: Raju playing with his favourite rubber tube enrichment now.) - These heartwarming images show Indias best loved elephant celebrating five years of freedom with his very own cake after being confined to chains for five decades. Raju moved the world with his tearful reaction when he was rescued from his barbed shackles by the volunteers of Wildlife SOS, a charity which rescues wildlife across India, in July 2014. The male elephant had spent the first 50 years of his life roaming the streets of Uttar Pradesh in northern India begging for his owner, who was keeping him illegally.SEE CATERS COPY
He has since spent five years at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Churmura (Picture: Caters News)

 

Now retired, Raju lives a happy life at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Churmura. He has constant access to a pool and his own large enclosure. He receives healthy food and regular medical care.

 

He recently had a delicious elephant cake to celebrate his fifth year living free at the conservation. The cake was made of fruit, vegetables, cooked pulses and a number five made out of sugarcane.

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Co-Founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS, Kartick Satyanarayan, said:

The past five years with Raju has been an incredible journey for all of us. His determination to get better has accelerated his recovery to an extent that nobody was sure, was possible.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the amount of pain and loneliness he endured for so many years.

‘Watching Raju enjoy his retirement in peace fills our heart with happiness and keeps us motivated to help other elephants that continue to be treated with such cruelty, as he was.1

PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED:Raju with his keeper Surendra. ) - These heartwarming images show Indias best loved elephant celebrating five years of freedom with his very own cake after being confined to chains for five decades. Raju moved the world with his tearful reaction when he was rescued from his barbed shackles by the volunteers of Wildlife SOS, a charity which rescues wildlife across India, in July 2014. The male elephant had spent the first 50 years of his life roaming the streets of Uttar Pradesh in northern India begging for his owner, who was keeping him illegally.SEE CATERS COPY
He celebrated his fifth year at the conservation with a healthy elephant ‘cake’ (Picture: Caters News Agency)

 

Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar, Raju’s vet, said he was upset by had horribly the elephant had been treated when he first met him. He added:

He had spiked chains on his feet that were digging into his flesh, and his body was riddled with scars and painful abscesses. Removing those chains was quite symbolic.

For us, it meant that we had this great opportunity and responsibility to give Raju a second chance at a life of freedom.

For Raju, it was a symbolic moment that represented him stepping into a kinder life.1

What a beautiful story. Clearly, elephants are just as brilliant as they are big. They are highly empathic and have been seen comforting one another when upset. The cruelty Raju endured at the hands of another human being in unacceptable. We are so thankful he is now living a life full of nothing but proper care and love.

Source:
  1. Metro News