A 55-year-old elephant, Mohan, kept in captivity and severely abused by his owners was finally rescued in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh after wildlife activists, police and forest officials braved an unruly mob to free the pachyderm.
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Wildlife activists and forest officials said Mohan's rescue from his heartless owners who forced him to beg and underfed him was a big success as it came at the end of fiercely fought legal battle that began three years. The elephant's case had come to the notice of the UP forest department as far back as 2001.
Though severely traumatised in his captivity that lasted at least 15 years after he was bought from an animal and cattle fair in Bihar's Sonepur, Mohan's first response to his changed circumstances was encouraging as he ate bananas offered to him by forest officials who are currently in charge of his well being.
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The case of ownership remains contested in court with some locals insisting that the elephant was not mistreated. The chief judicial magistrate has asked the divisional forest officer to conduct a medical examination of the animal to verify the claims of abuse.
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Mohan's case is also being heard in the Allahabad HC for more than a year now. The district court in its order dated July 12 directed the forest department to rescue the elephant within three days and provide it all the medical care it needs.
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