Abused elephant rescued by Wildlife S.O.S.


Raju cried as he was freed from 50 years of cruelty; he was delivered to freedom to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura, India

Under the cover of darkness, a team from London-based Wildlife S.O.S rescued an elephant that had been abused for 50 years in India and transported it 350 miles to an elephant sanctuary where it walked free for the first time on July 4th.

Raju, believed to have been poached from his mother as a baby, was beaten and left bleeding from painful spiked leg shackles by an abusive owner who had the elephant beg for handouts and survive by eating plastic and paper for food.

The owner also tore out hair from Raju’s tail to sell as good luck charms, Wildlife S.O.S. founder Kartick Satyanarayan told the U.K. MailOnline.

A year after learning of Raju’s plight, Wildlife S.O.S. last week led a team of 10 veterinarians and wildlife officials, 20 forestry department officers and six policemen, and seized the abused elephant from the Uttar Pradesh area of India, after receiving a court order.

“The team [was] astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue,” Pooja Binepal, a spokesman for Wildlife S.O.S., told the MailOnline. “It was so incredibly emotional for all of us. We knew in our hearts he realized he was being freed.

“Elephants are not only majestic, but they are highly intelligent animals, who have been proven to have feelings of grief, so we can only imagine what torture half a century has been like for him.

“Until we stepped in he’d never known what it is like to walk free of his shackles–it’s a truly pitiful case. But today he knows what freedom is and he will learn what kindness feels like and what it’s like to not suffer any more.”

MailOnline has a video report:
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/outposts/post/abused-elephant-rescued-wildlife-s-o-s/


Since his arrival, Raju has received medical attention, been given proper baths and food, and is well along in the rehabilitation process. Wildlife S.O.S. has launched a campaign to raise $17,000 to help Raju begin his new life in a new enclosure, which will allow him to roam free with other elephants.

Beautiful Story. We had a local zoo that lost their elephant Bunny because of abuse from a keeper. She remembered how he treated her and she retaliated. Now Bunny lives on a farm in Tennessee. The zoo has new staff that are amazing and you can tell the animals are really cared for now.

What a beautiful and gentle soul, Raju...

Obscene doing something like this to such a splendid Creature!
I have a few choice-Things I would do to those Thugs responsible for this!

Heart breaking, but I always love a good ending.So glad he gets to live the rest of his days to be cared for.

I hope he gets fat and happy.

Can't stand ppls that
Abuse abuse they shud all be locked up, animals also have a heart just like we do & they tend to give u the same Luv u give to them if not much more, I saw this story about an elephant that die became the trainer that cared for it left it alone to go to a wedding.. It wudn't eat or anything just cuz it missed her that much it broke my heart... It goes to also show us just how much an animal can luv a human being & to know that ppls out there abuse animals it's just an unforgivable crime to say the least & there shud be extreme consequences for all animal abusers... Did any one c that gorilla that was really heart broken when they told him Robbin William die.. I have the posting I just don't know how to put it up here. But u can find it on YouTube.. that alone goes to show us the heart these animal have. Not only do they have a heart they also have a very functional brain,,, the only thing that's truely missing is the speech otherwise they'd b just like us in everyway but their looks... Pls take stand on behave of all animals..cz I don't think there's an animal that won't put a smile on anyone face even if it's for a spit second.