In July 2013 Humane Society International´s (HSI) project partner Wildlife SOS learned of an elephant named Raju. Raju has lived the first 50 years of his life in chains, with very little to eat. Little is known about Raju´s early years other than he was poached as a young calf and sold repeatedly for the first 24 years of his life, being traded as a commodity every two years of his life. With each successive "owner" he underwent abuse and beatings to `discipline´ and `train´ him to accept his new master. As a bull elephant, he was shackled, usually with spiked anklets and kept chained continuously. Raju has worn spiked chains all his life.
Over the next year Wildlife SOS observed Raju to be in a pathetic condition with no shelter provided, night or day. He was shackled and chained outdoors all the time. During the day, the mahout took Raju to pilgrimage sites and used him as a prop to collect money for himself. In an acute state of hunger and exhaustion due to long working days, poor conditions, and an inadequate diet, Raju the elephant started accepting any food items in a desperate quest for nourishment, including paper and plastic.
Following several months of planning involving undercover surveillance, investigations and court hearings, the team took action in the middle of the night to take Raju to the Humane Society International (HSI) funded Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura. Emotions were high as a team of veterinarians and elephant keepers from Wildlife SOS, combined with Forest Department staff and police in the daring rescue of Raju.
"It was incredibly emotional; Raju had been in chains 24 hours a day for 50 years, an act of intolerable cruelty. Until we stepped in he´d never known what it is like to walk free of his shackles, and now begins his journey to learn what kindness feels like. We were astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue, and knew in our hearts he realised he was being freed," said Wildlife SOS founder Kartick Satyanarayan.
With time being of the essence HSI has committed to funding the rescue operation entirely, and is raising funds to cover costs as well as set Raju up for the rest of his life. The first months are bound to be challenging due to his abusive history, though we are confident Raju´s journey to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre will see the days of a torment filled life and abusive environment behind him. A special pond is being made and he will not be alone any more, with two male companions in Rajesh and Bhola and five friendly females all eagerly welcoming Raju to the centre.
HSI Director Verna Simpson said that, "The commitment and courage displayed by Wildlife SOS staff throughout the rescue process has been phenomenal. Raju´s case is particularly tragic; after being sold to new owners close to 30 times his condition was shocking, with exhaustion and hunger driving him to eat plastic in a desperate quest for nourishment. This incredibly daring rescue by Wildlife SOS is well worth celebrating, though the road is not clear just yet. There´s a desperate need to cover the costs of the rescue and the construction and maintenance of Raju´s elephant pond and shelter, as well as to foot an elephant-sized feed bill."
Please help us with our commitment to provide long term care and support for Raju, who deserves the opportunity to just be an elephant.
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