Raju The Crying Elephant May Be Forced Back To A Life In Chains [View all]

[one_voice]

The story of Raju, the elephant who cried when he was freed after 50 years in shackles, touched millions around the world just two months ago. Now, in a cruel twist of fate, Raju might be sent 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