After 50 Years As Slave For Tourists, 70YO Elephant Finally Living Super-Sized Life He Deserves
A 70-year-old elephant named Gajraj is finally getting to enjoy retirement. He recently celebrated one year since he first got the taste of freedom. The elephant was the first patient at Wildlife SOS&lsquo recently opened elephant hospital. He was finally freed and sent to a Wildlife SOS care center after thousands of letters emails and calls.
After spending his life in chains for 50 long years, a 70-year-old elephant named Gajraj is finally getting to enjoy retirement. He recently celebrated one year since he first got the taste of freedom.
Elephant
Gajraj is currently being treated at the medical center after a successful campaign titled #FreeGajraj by PETA India freed him from his tourism duties.
After more than 50 years of being chained in an India temple, Gajraj has finally been rescued. #GajrajisFree pic.twitter.com/9MT5hRAUiA
¡ª Ben Williamson (@tofuhomeboy) June 15, 2017
The 70-year-old elephant was the first patient at Wildlife SOS¡® recently opened elephant hospital.
VICTORY! After being chained in the same spot for 51 YEARS, Gajraj the elephant is finally free ?? https://t.co/i9OBKbYXBX pic.twitter.com/zUd4gDiUvs
¡ª PETA (@peta) June 15, 2017
The Elephant hospital occupies a total area of 12,000 sq feet and is equipped to treat sick and injured elephants. It has state-of-the-art medical technologies like wireless X-Ray, thermal imaging, ultrasonography, and an elephant ambulance.
ALSO READ: India's First Elephant Hospital With Unique Medical Facilities Opens Up In Mathura
According to reports, Gajraj spent 50 years in tourism spots like Shri Bhavani Museum, Yamai Devi Temple in Aundh and Satara. His tusks were hacked off and he was suffering from a very poor diet and dehydration, investigators revealed.
I remember tweeting close to a year back to end Gajraj¡¯s 51 year long misery of captivity. Looking at him thrive and being free at @WildlifeSOS was certainly the highlight of my day. #SaveTheElephantDay ? pic.twitter.com/wzFN6D9huO
¡ª Sidharth Malhotra (@SidMalhotra) April 16, 2018
"Gajraj's time in captivity left him with multiple health issues including a large painful abscess on his right hip and thin, worn out footpads that were so thin in some places that they had turned pink," Yaduraj Khadpekar, senior wildlife veterinary officer, told People.
Gajraj is at his breaking point ? Please sign to help free him: https://t.co/jf1tpCEEIL #FreeGajraj pic.twitter.com/cTzOaZRtD1
¡ª PETA Asia (@PETAAsia) May 23, 2017
He was finally freed and sent to a Wildlife SOS care center after thousands of letters, emails, and calls.
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