Mohan was labelled as the most 'Unluckiest Elephant'.
After several attempts made by wildlife activist since 2013 to free 55-year-old elephant Mohan, who was labelled the most 'Unluckiest Elephant' from an illegal custody of his owner, a resident of Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh the mammoth has finally for the first time has seen freedom from alleged cruelty.
According to activists from Wildlife SOS who have been fighting the long battle along with forest department to free Mohan it was the District Court in Pratapgarh issued an order on July 12 to the police to immediately file a FIR against the people holding the elephant in illegal custody and seize the elephant within three days but the pachyderm could only be rescued on July 21.
According to spokesperson from Wildlife SOS Mohan was 'stolen' from his wild herd more than fifty years ago and was being used as a 'begging and performing elephant' ever since, infact the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department along with animal activists even tried to rescue the elephant in March 2015 from Lalganj but the whole operation had to be aborted after it became a law and order situation and the activists were even threatened to be killed.
Situation was no better this time as it almost took 20 hours for the rescue operation that was mounted by police, forest and Wildlife SOS to rescue Mohan. "There was a lot of stiff resistance from anti-social elements in the area who wanted to sabotage the rescue attempt once again but thanks to the presence of a large police force that helped maintain safety of the rescue team yet the unruly mob damaged one vehicle," informed a spokesperson of Wildlife SOS who added that the mahout of the elephant Ghulam was arrested and sent to jail.
The medical examination of the elephant was conducted by a team of three veterinarians after his rescue and it revealed that Mohan was in a truly despicable condition due to constant torture and abuse.
"The medical report dated 23 July 2016 confirms the elephant is thin and emaciated caused by severe starvation. It also mentions that wounds on his body and ears confirm beating and poking by sharp objects, as well as feet injuries that would lead to permanent joint disorders if not properly treated immediately. The elephant's dung had a lot of round worms and indicated severe worm infestation," informed a Wildlife SOS member stating that Mohan was in the custody of the forest department and they would begin the process to get its custody so that it could live comfortably with other rescued Elephants in their Elephant rescue centre.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said, "We hope that this breakthrough in attaining Mohan's long overdue freedom sets a precedent of zero tolerance for illegal ownership of elephants and gives hope to elephants across the country that are held in illegal captivity and suffering abuse and neglect at the hands of their captors."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mohan the elephant")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}