In July 2014, the story of Raju, a former begging elephant, went viral after being rescued from nearly five decades of abuse.
Team members of animal charity Wildlife SOS, which rescued the badly abused and severely malnourished elephant, had reported tears rolling down its eyes after it realised it was being freed from torture.
The team put their hearts and souls into preparing the grandest summer feast of seasonal fruits for Raju.
“It is unimaginable for humans to understand Raju’s pain that he suffered and endured for 50 long years. We worked hard to give Raju his independence back and he is living a life filled with love and care under the watchful eyes of our veterinary team and elephant care staff,” Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said.
The shocking story of Raju
Raju, believed to be an illegally captured elephant from the wild at a young age, was kept in spiked chains for nearly fifty years.
While its ownership changed hands several times, Raju’s plights didn’t, and it was treated as a money-making machine.
Five decades of ill-treatment turned this majestic pachyderm into a husk of his wild self as he trudged the narrow streets of Prayagraj for begging and other ‘performances’.
How Raju was rescued
Raju’s luck changed with the intervention of Wildlife SOS, which went to court to get the elephant freed from its abusive owner.
Armed with a court order, the NGO overcame stiff, last-minute resistance by its owner and mahout to rescue the elephant.
When Raju was brought to the elephant hospital, its body bore multiple scars from bullhook injuries, abscesses on his hips and footpads, and wounds on his tail.
When life gives a second chance
But with the tireless efforts of the veterinary team at Wildlife SOS, Raju’s health improved remarkably.
“The second phase of Raju’s life is brimming with compassion and affection. The elephant care staff at the Elephant Hospital Campus make sure that they are always ready with necessary preparations for Raju. A healthy amount of fresh vegetables ensures Raju’s wholesome diet and this gentle pachyderm likes to spend hours in his enclosure pool, especially during the summer season,” Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary of Wildlife SOS, said.
Scars still remain
But the scars from nearly five decades of abuses won’t go away that easily, and the elephant continues to receive medical care to this date at the rehabilitation facility, which also houses several other jumbos that had a similar past.
“Raju is currently receiving treatment for his foot pad abscesses and a chronic tail wound. He also undergoes grooming for his nails and foot pads on a day-to-day basis. A decade-long effort to improve Raju’s condition has resulted in a remarkable recovery of his health. Seeing him live a fulfilling life under our care is one of the biggest joys that we have experienced,” Baiju Raj MV, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, said.