Raju the elephant cries as he was never a happy elephant, until Jul. 4. On Independence Day, Raju the elephant cries after being rescued from shackles and spiked chains. He has been suffering in captivity ever since he can remember and it was only after 50 years that he was freed and Raju the elephant cries during an overnight rescue mission.

Since infanthood, 50-year-old Raju the elephant had been abused. Raju the elephant cries after rescue since he was kept in chains and resold by his different owners who were all no less cruel than the former. According to Metro, Raju the elephant was beaten and even forced to beg and eat plastic on the streets of India for survival.

In a life-changing turn of events last week, Raju the elephant cries after he was found by north London-based charity Wildlife SOS  who decided enough was enough and stepped in to save the gentle giant from dying in cruel captivity. The charity organized an apparently dangerous midnight rescue operation for him, and Raju the elephant cries during the rescue mission.

The rescue mission for Raju was held from the Uttar Pradesh region in India. According to E! Online, the mission was not easy and involved a lot of risks since the captor of Raju the elephant initiated a standoff. He reportedly also tried shouting commands at helpless Raju the elephant just to provoke him, and tightened the spiked chains on his legs.

Still, the rescue team thought Raju the elephant was worth the risk. Comprised of ten veterinarians and wildlife experts, along with two policemen, the team was successful in freeing the creature, and Raju the elephant cries later on after the rescue.

The rescue operation where afterwards Raju the elephant cries, happened under the cover of night as the clock aptly rolled towards Jul. 4, Independence Day.

They took him to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura after the rescue for recuperation.

Incredibly, as if Raju the elephant knew that the team was about to save him, the rescue team saw the majestic creature respond with tears of joy rolling down his face.

Wildlife SOS-UK's Pooja Binepal told "The Mirror" of his experience as Raju the elephant cries, 'Raju has spent the past 50 years living a pitiful existence in chains 24 hours a day, an act of intolerable cruelty. The team were astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue. It was so incredibly emotional for all of us. We knew in our hearts he realized he was being freed.'

Binepal continued of what Raju the elephant could have felt in captivity, 'Elephants are not only majestic, but they are highly intelligent animals, who have been proven to have feelings of grief, so we can only imagine what torture half a century has been like for him.'

Pooja also explained, 'Very little is known about his early years but we believe he was poached from his mother as a young calf. From there Raju was sold as a tourist attraction, begging for coins with his trunk, without shelter, and only fed what passersby would give him, or whatever plastic or paper he could get ahold of. The chains around his legs had spikes which were cutting into his flesh-and each time he moved pus would ooze out of wounds. Pain and brutality were all he knew. His cruel handler even tore out the hair from his tail to sell as good luck charms. The exploitation and abuse just had to stop.' 

'Until we stepped in he'd never known what it is like to walk free of his shackles.'

Wildlife SOS also pointed out that after the rescue and as Raju the elephant cries, they brought him 350 miles away to the charity's Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura, where all his chains have been removed indefinitely. He was also reportedly given a bath and a proper meal.

The charity said, 'Today he knows what freedom is and he will learn what kindness feels like and what it's like to not suffer any more.'

According to the charity's resident wildlife veterinarian Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar, Raju the elephant is now receiving medical attention.

Wildlife SOS also said that after Raju the elephant cries, and when he has been fully rehabilitated, he will be joining two other rescued elephants living out the rest of his days in peace.

Raju the elephant cries after being rescued and freed is a story that leaves tears not only to the eyes of the thankful creature, but to the wildlife freedom fighters as well. Pooja said, 'We all had tears in our eyes as the last rope which held the final spike was cut. And Raju took his first steps of freedom...He'll spend the rest of his life in a safe compound in dignity and free from suffering and pain. 

Wildlife SOS is currently trying to raise £10,000 in order to cover for Raju the elephant's expenses and build a new enclosure for the rest of the elephants they have rescued. For more information and for donation details, you can visit www.wildlifesos.org.