Suraj
Year of arrival: 2015
Age at the time of arrival: 45 years old
Sex: Male
Recognisable features: One-eared elephant — presumably lost his ear when he was poached in the wild; tusker
Health condition when rescued: Underweight with a bony frame due to severe malnourishment; multiple bullhook wounds, stiff joints, and foot rot
Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC)
Favourite food: Sweet potatoes and pumpkins
Favourite activities: Long walks with his caregiver and playing with wooden log enrichment
Background: Suraj was living a life of abuse and neglect at a temple in Maharashtra. Ironically, Suraj, a word that means ‘sun’ in Hindi, was tied up in spiked chains in a dark, dank room with little food and water. Years of neglect led to a severely deteriorated health. Now residing at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Suraj is being treated with kindness and respect. | READ MORE ABOUT SURAJ
suraj’S STORY
For over four decades of his life, Suraj suffered greatly. As a temple elephant, he was made to live an extremely uncomfortable life in a dark, damp room that was too small for him. Decades of confinement had turned his joints stiff, and he was finding it difficult to function his big, lumbering body. Being a vital element of the temple, his rescue signalled a certain threat of hostility and possible danger. Once the necessary paperwork was in order, the rescue team headed in the direction of Satara, the city where Suraj was. Tense hours of negotiation followed as the team, accompanied by a force of more than 70 law enforcement officers and three hired bodyguards, tried to reason with the temple officials. A mob of irate locals began to form. With strong determination and a little luck, we were finally able to lead Suraj towards the Wildlife SOS Elephant Ambulance.
At the time of his rescue in December 2015, Suraj had a gaunt and bony frame. He was severely underweight for his tall frame. When he stepped into the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, the priority of our team became to help him put on weight that would further help him gain strength.
The staff expected this majestic tusker to take a while to adapt to the new sights, sounds and smells of the rescue centre. But the regal bull took everyone by surprise as he calmly ambled around and enjoyed the treats spread out for him. Suraj even indulged in a mud bath! From then on, his healing journey has only been uphill. It is rewarding to see Suraj enjoy the peacefulness of his surroundings.