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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRaju The Crying Elephant May Be Forced Back To A Life In Chains
Raju was captured as a baby and bought and sold over his 50-year lifespan, all while being forced to work as a begging elephant and shackled in spikes chains. Wildlife SOS, an animal protection group, rescued Raju from his abusive owner and mahout -- an individual who rides elephants -- during a July mission in the Uttar Pradesh region of India.
"The vet and our team came with fruits and just started speaking softly to him and to reassure him that we were there to help, and it was at that time that tears flooded down his face," Nikki Sharp, the executive director of Wildlife SOS-USA, told The Huffington Post, adding: "They've done a lot of elephant rescues and the fact the the tears were just coming down ... he was weeping. It was an emotional moment and everyone was more motivated to get him on the truck and to safety."
*snip*
His owner is arguing that Raju is his property, which must be returned to him for his use," Wildlife SOS founder Kartick Satyanarayan said, per The Hindu. "The thought of him being forced back to a life in chains is just horrific ... We are now anxiously awaiting our first court hearing in Allahabad, next week on September 4 to find out the fate of Raju. We want this case to set a precedent across India to change the way elephants are treated and abusers are punished and justice prevails for these magnificent creatures that suffer in silence."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/03/rajua-crying-elephant-chains_n_5758396.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
https://www.change.org/p/shri-akhilesh-yadav-the-honourable-chief-minister-government-of-uttar-pradesh-keep-raju-free
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1432730
dhill926
(16,317 posts)can buy him from his asshole owner .
Prayers to Ceiling Cat that it happens.
FSogol
(45,456 posts)I think this will have a happy ending. Wildlife groups will step up and pay the owner. Doesn't India have some animal abuse laws the owner could be charged with?
I'll chip in. Lots of people will. Raju won't go back.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)I don't think Raju could take being returned to a life in chains, abuse and starvation. It would break his heart irreparably.
zonkers
(5,865 posts)increase awareness and make life better for elephants in the future.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Pharaoh
(8,209 posts)how they can abuse a sweet animal like this is beyond me......
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)One low life was abusing Raju.
JI7
(89,241 posts)other than the money his abuse was bringing him.
Pharaoh
(8,209 posts)my bad.............
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Cows and elephants???
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And the owner's name is "Mr. Shahid", so he's probably not Hindu anyways.
That said, there are several million trafficked children being forced to beg and/or labor in India right now (nearly half of all people in slavery today are in India), so clearly there's no magic in Hinduism that keeps people from being evil...
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)for a person who makes that kind of statement
Vine Gatherer
(94 posts)Is there a DUWretch button I can push?
JI7
(89,241 posts)YES.
Terra Alta
(5,158 posts)to donate to help save this poor, sweet animal? I hope there is an effort to buy Raju from his cruel owner. I would gladly pitch in some $. This breaks my heart.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)the second and third link. One is a petition the other is donations.
It breaks my heart too.
Owl
(3,640 posts)The inequity of life is heartbreaking.
frylock
(34,825 posts)And PayPal makes it soooo easy.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)mckara
(1,708 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)Gonna donate. Hope all the attention will lead to a happy ending for Raju. What a sorry excuse for a human being the former owner is. He should be in jail.
rpannier
(24,328 posts)Saving to read later