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The chains and spikes wrapped around his legs had left him with chronic wounds and arthritis and he was in almost constant pain.
But now he is walking free for the first time after a daring rescue by conservationists with a court order by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to take the elephant from his abusive owner.
The charity took Raju in the middle of the night on Thursday, supported by police and state officials.
The elephant’s mahout and previous owner tried to stop him being taken by adding more chains and having people block the roads for the rescue lorry...
So this was a public rescue supported by the authorities. And the owner's pals were all in favor of the torture inflicted on this poor animal continuing to the death, no doubt. I feared they would get him back, but if the authorities stand strong, and enough people contribute to his care, he will be safe. My first thought was he needed to be moved from the country.
Experts worked for hours to gain the elephant’s trust with fruit and encouragement until they could get him into the van that would take him to a sanctuary...
Kartick Satyanarayan, the charity’s co-founder, said the mahout tried to make the elephant charge by shouting commands.
He added: “We stood our ground and refused to back down – and as we did so, tears began to roll down Raju's face.
“Some no doubt were due to the pain being inflicted by the chains, but he also seemed to sense that change was coming...
Of course he would cry, look at the age he was taken from his mother, if this was the way he was taken into captivity:
Ms Binepal said: “The poachers either slaughter the mother, or they drive the herd into traps that are small enough only for the babies to fall into. The mother cries for her baby for days after he's been stolen – it is a sickening trade.
“The calves are then tied and beaten until they submit to their owners – their spirits are effectively broken.”
Thank goodness for humans who saved him from a living death.
But now he is walking free for the first time after a daring rescue by conservationists with a court order by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to take the elephant from his abusive owner.
The charity took Raju in the middle of the night on Thursday, supported by police and state officials.
The elephant’s mahout and previous owner tried to stop him being taken by adding more chains and having people block the roads for the rescue lorry...
So this was a public rescue supported by the authorities. And the owner's pals were all in favor of the torture inflicted on this poor animal continuing to the death, no doubt. I feared they would get him back, but if the authorities stand strong, and enough people contribute to his care, he will be safe. My first thought was he needed to be moved from the country.
Experts worked for hours to gain the elephant’s trust with fruit and encouragement until they could get him into the van that would take him to a sanctuary...
Kartick Satyanarayan, the charity’s co-founder, said the mahout tried to make the elephant charge by shouting commands.
He added: “We stood our ground and refused to back down – and as we did so, tears began to roll down Raju's face.
“Some no doubt were due to the pain being inflicted by the chains, but he also seemed to sense that change was coming...
Of course he would cry, look at the age he was taken from his mother, if this was the way he was taken into captivity:
Ms Binepal said: “The poachers either slaughter the mother, or they drive the herd into traps that are small enough only for the babies to fall into. The mother cries for her baby for days after he's been stolen – it is a sickening trade.
“The calves are then tied and beaten until they submit to their owners – their spirits are effectively broken.”
Thank goodness for humans who saved him from a living death.
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