Gajraj, the temple elephant, who was rescued last year after 51 years of enslavement, celebrated his first freedom anniversary on Thursday, 14 June, at his home, the Wildlife SOS Elephant Care & Conservation Center (ECCC) in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
To commemorate his first year of freedom, the veterinarians and elephant caretakers at the centre put together a special treat for the jumbo, making him a healthy ‘cake’ out of delicious cooked pulses, fruits and vegetables.
Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder & CEO Wildlife, SOS said:
Gajraj’s advancing age means he needs a lot of medical care more than anything else. A year has gone by since his rescue and he has grown much stronger with the constant care of his keeper and veterinarians.
Seventy-year-old ‘Gajraj’ was rescued last June from a popular temple in Maharashtra’s Aundh. He belonged to the Queen of Aundh in Satara and was used in temple processions for over 51 years. As he grew old, the elephant began suffering from several medical issues, like foot abscesses and partial blindness.
“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,” said Yaduraj Khadpekar, senior wildlife veterinary officer.
“We are currently providing him with routine foot care treatments and have introduced prescribed supplements to his nutritious diet,” Khadpekar added.
The effort to rescue him had gone on for years. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had also launched a campaign to this end.
Gajraj chained on all four legs.
(Photo: PETA India)
The plea for Gajraj’s rescue last year got calls from several celebrities like Jacqueline Fernandez, Suniel Shetty, Sunny Leone and Sidharth Malhotra as well.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)