These elephants went from abuse and torture to freedom and joy

The life of a captive elephant is forced labour, cruel conditions, poor nutrition, and severe beatings. They are one of the most intelligent and beautiful animals on the planet. Tragically, they are also among the most abused of all animals. There is hope for them though, because of an increase in awareness and the rise of more sanctuaries like this one, WildlifeSOS in Agra, India.

This is Maya. Her story was a sad one. She is nearly 50 years old and most of her life had been spent as a broken animal with no hope and no joy. The statistics on these beautiful souls tell a tragic story. The elephants that are forced to walk on hot pavement suffer blisters and infections, yet they continue out of fear. They are managed by cruel handlers with hooks and sticks, reminding them that lack of submission is met with immediate pain. Some suffer from back stain and injury due to the heavy loads as tourists climb upon them for rides and pictures.

Every captive elephant in Jaipur, India suffers from a foot malady of one sort or another. Some elephants are blind. Many suffer from malnutrition or obesity as they are fed unnatural foods like cheeseburgers or other fast food.

WildlifeSOS has brought Maya to their peaceful sanctuary where she will live the rest of her days in a much different environment. Maya could never be released back to the wild. She will need ongoing care. She has responded well to the gentle touch of her caregivers and the positive reinforcement that allows treatments to take place. Treats and a kind voice have replaced the yells and prodding with sharp hooks. Maya has leisure time now and she can roll in soft dirt, wander by a river, or bathe in pools. She can socialize with other elephants which is crucial to their wellbeing.

To watch Maya and the other elephants experiencing joy for the first time in decades is a heart warming experience. Please visit WildlifeSOS.org and see what can be done to help these gentle animals.