Raju the elephant who cried when rescued

After a lifetime of being enslaved, beaten with bull hooks, chained and begging for 27 different owners, Raju cried when he was freed by Wildlife SOS 2 years ago on July 4, 2014.

Raju's deformed right hind knee which makes walking extremely painful.. 

Raju's deformed right hind knee which makes walking extremely painful.. 

Raju's tearful eye. 

Raju's tearful eye. 

i was so impassioned by Raju's story that I visited him on Novemer 7th, 2014. ​His right hind knee is permanently deformed as can be seen in these photos which I took when I visited him in Mathura, India.  Raju spends time in a large tub of water daily to relieve his pain from weight bearing. 

Raju in his daily therapy tub. 

Raju in his daily therapy tub. 

Bull hooks used by Raju's previous owners to beat and maim him. 

Bull hooks used by Raju's previous owners to beat and maim him. 

After a lifetime of being enslaved, beaten with bull hooks, chained and begging ​for 27 different owners, Raju cried when he was freed by Wildlife SOS 2 years ago on July 4, 2014.