Do you recall Raju, the elephant that shed tears of joy after being freed after being chained for more than five decades? His heartbreaking story went viral a few years ago, and since then, a lot has changed. Fortunately for the magnificent creature, the transformation was positive!
Raju is shown in the beautiful video below one year after his heroic rescue in 2014. The elephant learned what it means to live a happy and tranquil life throughout his year at the Elephant Conservation and Care Center in Mathura after being rescued from the streets of Allahabad. But, more importantly, he rediscovered his ability to love and trust others. His transformation is astounding, and it’s yet another example of elephants’ strength and endurance in the face of challenges that no one, regardless of species, should ever face.
Raju’s joy was difficult to put into words when he was finally set free by a group of kind people. For everyone, it was a heartfelt moment. “It was really heartbreaking,” Wildlife SOS UK’s Pooja Binepal told PressPeople. “The team was taken aback when they saw tears streaming down his face during the rescue. We had a feeling he realized he was being let free. Elephants are not only beautiful, but they are also very intellectual animals who have been shown to experience grief, so we can only image what he’s been through for the past half-century.”
Raju, thankfully, received a happy ending and now has the opportunity to enjoy his final years in peace. Hundreds of other elephants in captivity, on the other hand, continue to be ignored and harmed by heartless people who only care about making a profit.
Raju’s incredible transformation can be seen here: