Emma, a 40-year-old elephant force-fed a diet of alcohol, fried food, tobacco and sweets, has been saved from a lifetime of exploitation.
Conservationists dashed to her rescue on New Year’s Eve placing the Indian elephant in a specially designed ambulance for the 1,000 mile journey from the city of Dhanbad in the east of the country to Mathura in the north.
Emma was found severely malnourished and suffering from painful and chronic osteoarthritis and degenerative joints disease.
Sharp glass, metal and stone fragments were also embedded in her footpads.
Wildlife SoS, who staged the rescue, said her abusers had given her little respite as they regularly used Emma for “begging, religious processions, wedding ceremonies, tourist rides and any activity that her owner found to be lucrative.”
The Indian charity said: “At night, she was tightly restrained, preventing her from lying down and resting. She was fed an unhealthy diet of sweets and fried foods that left her immunity and health severely compromised.
“She was also regularly force-fed crude country liquor to force her to work despite the pain in her legs.
“When questioned her owners said they couldn’t afford proper medical treatment.
"Shockingly, it is not uncommon for captive elephants to be given alcohol and tobacco by their owners as home remedies to combat health problems.
“In reality, elephants cannot metabolise alcohol and it is toxic for the animal.
"Such callousness can also cause inebriation, which could result in the elephant running rampant across a crowded area, endangering the lives of innocent bystanders.”
An examination by Wildlife SOS’ vet said the elephant is lifting her forelimbs abnormally frequently to compensate for the severe pain in her legs caused by years of abuse resulting in degenerative joints disease of the forelimbs.
Dr Ilayaraja, deputy director of veterinary services for Wildlife SOS,
said, “It is extremely painful for the elephant to stand on her delicate and sensitive feet.
“Years of neglect and abuse has taken a toll on her health.
Founder and chief executive Kartick Satyanaraya added, “We had to act quickly so Emma could get the medical care she so desperately needs.
“The fact that she was force-fed alcohol by her owner shows the immense cruelty and neglect she has faced all these years.”
