The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is listed as ‘Endangered’ by IUCN. Yet, there are an estimated 16,000 elephants in captivity across 11 Asian countries, of which about 3,500 are in India alone. 

Wildlife S.O.S., a non-profit headquartered in Delhi, rescues severely-abused captive elephants in India. 23 rescued elephants are housed and rehabilitated at the non-profit’s two elephant centres, including the Elephant Conservation & Care Centre in Mathura, on the outskirts of the Indian capital, where these pictures were taken.

The reality behind elephant captivity is extremely brutal. Young elephants are snatched from the wild and tortured into submission by their human masters by a process known as ‘breaking of the spirit’, which involves beatings, starvation, confinement and other forms of subjugation. This is followed by 4 – 5 decades of servitude, in horrific conditions, often resulting in the death of the elephant. Tourist demand for riding elephants is a major contributing factor to elephant captivity and the subsequent reduction in their numbers. There is an increasing consciousness among tourists to not ride elephants but there is still a lot of awareness to be created.  

Under the loving care of the Wildlife S.O.S. team, all the rescued elephants at the Elephant Conservation & Care Centre, receive a carefully calibrated nutritious diet and a high degree of medical care that helps them recuperate and live out their lives peacefully in the company of their own kind!

Sign the petition Refuse to Ride. Click here.