Many of us may have fond memories of riding an elephant or a camel on family holidays. But we never realised that it was never okay to use living beings for our own pleasure and entertainment.
Many animals even today are kept under inhuman living conditions and captivated far from their natural abode so that they can entertain us and feed their owners.
Ride No. 7This is Chanchal, 49 years-old.She has overgrown toenails with cracks, deformation and discoloration, the…
Posted by Wildlife SOS on Saturday, June 29, 2019
Raju, the elephant, was also a victim of this cruelty for five decades before he was rescued from his master who used to torture him into begging on the streets of Uttar Pradesh. But this ‘chosen one’ was lucky to be rescued by a team of enthusiastic and affectionate animal lovers.
“Years of mistreatment, abuse and inadequate care had left him gaunt and miserable. He was tightly restrained with spiked chains, and his withering body bore multiple scars and chronic abscesses-evidence of repeated jabs with a bullhook,” Wildlife SOS said in a statement about Raju the elephant.
Wildlife SOS, an NGO that rescues and rehabilitates animals in distress, rescued Raju. And on Wednesday they celebrated Raju’s five years of freedom. The NGO also prepared a cake made of fruits, pulses and vegetables that Raju scarfed down.
It's a very big day for Raju tomorrow! Stay tuned for a special celebration. If Raju's rescue inspired you… tell us…
Posted by Wildlife SOS on Wednesday, July 3, 2019
“Delighted to find the treat, Raju scooped up every bite of the cake with his trunk and stuffed it all into his mouth within minutes!”
“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,” Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO of Wildlife SOS, said in a statement. “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.”
Raju is also receiving love from around the world:
We all are guilty of deriving pleasure from someone else’s hardships. But it is never too late to make amends. Let’s help rescue many such Rajus so they can live a life free from captivity and torture!