Wild animals should live the life they deserve. They belong to the wild instead of small cages where they are forced to entertain people. When living in the wild, these animals may face threats from nature and humans but they get freedom. And at least, they aren’t mentally abused. Captivity can even deprive the thirst for the survival of a jungle’s king. Such a heartbreaking scene to witness!
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
Thankfully, Lakhi the 60-year-old elephant in this story doesn’t meet that end. She was freed from cruel owners who forced her to parade around towns and temples in India for begging money.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
The senior elephant was blind and tortured with a large lump on her head when she was discovered. Her former owners used to beat her and tie chains around her legs to prevent the poor animal from escaping. She gets no freedom and proper treatment.
Local authorities were forced to intervene after many locals and tourists had reported this. The poor animal had been forced to collect money for years. She is constantly exhausted and almost loses vision of one eye.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
Following this, the staff at the Wildlife SOS came to rescue Lakhi. They set free the senior elephant from chains and torture. She could finally enjoy the relaxing days of her life at the sanctuary.
The rescue team transferred the elephant to the wildlife sanctuary’s center in Mathura, North India. The journey was 1,400km, so they fed Lakhi with fresh fruit and kept her hydrated with buckets of water.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
Wildlife SOS wrote on their Facebook page: ‘It’s a long journey to get there, but it’s nothing compared to the hard.ships Lakhi has already faced.
‘She is pretty smart. She picked up the smell of the bananas in the caretaker’s pocket and reached out with the help of her trunk to grab them as he closed his eyes for a little nap on the truck.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
Lakhi was then safe at the Wildlife SOS sanctuary. It was such a lovely home to the old blind elephant as she receives love, care, and kindness. She was calm and enjoyed her walks and baths so much that it was incredibly easy to work with her.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
Lakhi also made friends with Asha and Coco, two other adorable and playful elephants. She really enjoyed her last days at the sanctuary. On an evening of March 2015, the senior elephant left this world, with her friends and sanctuary’s staff by her side.
Image Credits: Wildlife SOS
H/T: Dailybbnews