For more than 50 agonizing years, the 70-year-old Indian elephant “Gajraj” served as a temple elephant to the Royal family of Aundh. Locals in the Satara district of Maharashtra considered him as a worship icon as he played a significant role during their temple parades and celebrations. Stolen from his family as a calf, battered into submission, and chained, Gajraj is finally free from his awful sentence, despite committing no crime at all.
Gajraj whose name translates to “King of Elephants” was handed over to Wildlife SOS — a non-governmental organization for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation — for his extensive medical treatment and lifetime custody.
When they rescued him, his body was filled with injuries, he was partly blind, weak from starvation, suffering from dehydration and foot abscesses, his tusks cut to protect the individuals who battered him daily, and chained by all 4 legs.
The royal family, especially the Queen, was compelled to surrender Gajraj. However, the team consisting of 12 members including veterinarians, mechanics, handlers, and drivers had to be escorted by the local police on the day of the rescue mission. It started as an emotional farewell but quickly became ugly as a crowd of locals tried to stop him from leaving. They were reportedly throwing stones and rocks at the team. The reason they don’t want him to be saved? “He [Gajraj] is an icon.”
After a long struggle, as he wrestles against boarding the ambulance and the locals try to stop him, they were able to finally get him in. A 930-mile journey took him to an undisclosed location, where he was finally free.
Gajraj now spends his day leisurely snacking on fresh fruits and green fodder, and splashing in his own pool and having dust baths. The veterinarians have been giving him nutritional supplements to hopefully make him the healthy Gajraj he once was.
