We’ve got a long history that proves the fact that trespassing in the wildlife has been in our nature from the very day we felt superior. However, the Earth is a mysterious planet where the biggest species are the quietest and the tiniest insects could end up taking your life just by a sting! The bigger the prey the better the hunter. Whales for their fat, elephants for their tusks, tigers for their hide, giraffes for their tails, snakes for their venom & skin!

“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant, the only harmless great thing, the giant,” are the words of John Donne, one of the greatest poets of English Literature gives a clear picture of these innocent beasts. This story is a disclosure for all those who think of animals as a source of profit and nothing more. Watch the video and you’ll know how sensitive wildlife animals are and they too deserve to be treated with generosity and respect.

Most of you have seen elephants for the first time in circuses or zoos and I remember the first time I saw elephants, they did not seem too happy to look at me, two huge elephants, tied outside a circus, trumpeting and moving aggressively trying to get unchained on one stormy night, scared the hell out me as a child. But now thinking of them, I realize, that night, they were more scared of the weather, than I was of them. Elephants, who are said to sense rain from 150 miles away, were left in an open playground when lightning struck every now and then, they were just trying to save themselves and get into some safer place! This event is from their perspective just as the video soon will show their true emotions!

Since Childhood

Elephants can show supremacy but despite their size, they tend to flee from fights and sights of danger. If the grown-ups are so timid then you can fathom how docile and submissive their calves could be. All they love is to be close to their mother all the time and around their aunts from the group and other same age friends.

 I don’t like elephants. So strong and so obedient.. Charlie Chaplin is justified to  have misunderstood the theory of bringing up these gentle beasts, like most of us, as we see what they’ve become and ignored the ‘how?’ A baby elephant is kept in isolation, chained, abused with the bullhook at their weak parts where the skin is soft, for months before they give in for a dull and inferior life. Many giants take their last breath in decades-long captivity but the story of Sook Jai, a Thai elephant we have for you is wholly different.

Rescuers

But now people are more aware than ever before, especially in the U.S. when a century-old circus was shut down a couple of years back following many accusations of mistreating elephants and animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) stated, “All other animal circuses, roadside zoos, and wild animal exhibitors, including marine amusement parks like SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium, must take note: Society has changed, eyes have been opened, people know now who these animals are, and we know it is wrong to capture and exploit them.”

After knowing a bit about their lives now is the time for you to know Sook Jai, a 75-year-old elephant and what happened to her that she signified her agony that was noticeable to everyone!

Restricted From Social Life

Sook Jai(the elephant) was kept away from other elephants. Mostly chained she was freed only to work by her masters. Over decades she has been working under different people, however similar in the terms of harshness and exploiting her life. She sure fed her handlers and their families as she earned them a lot of money but herself wasn’t even given a completely healthy diet that she deserved.

In this picture, you’ll see her helping her handler (sitting on top of her) to beg. People have deep religious bonds with elephants and giving money to an elephant’s so-called “caretaker” is believed to be a charitable deed. And that’s why you’ll see many similar scenes in Thailand.

People Noticed

While her owner kept her in a corner as a completely broken toy, there were people who noticed it and willing to interfere. But who were these people? Were they trying to help or were they just trying to make her Sook Jai’s conditions even bad? How much worse could it possibly be than it was right now for her? But many things were about to change for the big old lady. That’s for sure.

As expected, Sook Jai’s owner, who was looking for a reason to somehow get rid of her immediately approved the new people’s request who were willing to take her. But Sook Jai had least expectations or hopes left for herself. She never knew a free life and was suspecting to get into the hands of a new master now. She was kept in a truck, like before as well when she was moved from one owner to the other, she felt nothing new but a never-ending sorrowful life.

Journey To Freedom?

Sook Jai didn’t have anything from days and she was surely hungry but had nothing when her traveling mates offered. They stopped the truck for her when it was a cold night they covered the truck so that she doesn’t feel cold. They were trying to help her in the healing of her injuries too! It was unusual for her to be treated with so much care. How could anyone be good to her now? and why?

After a long journey, On January 23rd, 2017 when they finally reached and Sook Jai set her foot in Northern Thailand. She was suspicious and hopeless but something amazing was about to take place, the moment she realized that this place is her new home and her forever home. Her expressions were captured and everyone felt that they did a good job. Look at it yourself in the next slide.