Elephants, like whales and so many other creatures, are sensitive and social and smart and so many people treat them so cruelly.
But every once in a while you hear about a reversal of fortune and that’s what today’s story is about. An elephant in India named Raju had been captured when he was a baby, shackled with ropes and clamps that dug into his legs, and forced to do tricks to earn money for the beggars who chained him. This went on for fifty years, through several cruel masters, and without relief.
An agency from England called SOS Wildlife heard about Raju and launched a daring rescue. Twenty wildlife experts and veterinarians along with six police officers standing guard, freed him in the night last week. The drove him to a sanctuary where they cut off the painful shackles and fed him real food, possibly for the first time in his life. And the wildlife rescuers report that as they allowed Raju to walk freely for the first time, the huge animal shed a bucket of tears of relief.
He never got to know his family. He only knew a frightening, painful and solitary life. Now he’s roaming with other elephants, gaining some weight (he was super skinny) and allowed to live out the rest of his days in comfort and kindness.
I saw a story about this online and couldn’t even bear to click through, it sounded so desperately sad. I’m glad you were able to share it with us – I know how deeply your love for animals runs. It makes circuses, game parks, aquaria so hard to justify. Thanks.
It really does. Have you seen the documentary Blackfish? I will never go to another aquatic theme park. They are nothing short of marine-life slavery factories. These creatures are so sensitive and their families are broken up and they’re confined for our amusement. The film is fascinating and I recommend it.