Mathura: After walking under the heavens with rains not far, elephants who were saved from the circus and temple in India were treated to their favorite fruit and vegetable parties to celebrate the world’s elephant day.
The spread of luxurious watermelon, bananas, papaya and pumpkin are arranged for Asian elephants in the shelter near the edge of the Yamuna River, on the outskirts of the ancient holy city of Mathura.
The center observed a week’s events around the world elephant day, which fell on August 12.
Most of the 28 elephants in the midst of suffering from chronic diseases and various diseases ranging from abscesses, cataracts, blindness and joint pain, the results of the years of abuse in captivity, said conservationists with SOS wildlife, which operates the sanctuary.
“World elephant day is there to promote awareness about the fate of elephants in India and throughout the world, and what they actually go through and why the population decreases,” said Shirina Sawhney of SOS wildlife, who also runs the only Indian elephant hospital.
Elephants are an important part of Indian culture and often seen during the festival and procession in the south of the country.
They are also used in the north and west as tourist attractions in several fortresses and palaces.
But while being respected as a cultural and religious icon, elephants are also not treated by Mahouts who are not branched and often become victims of electric shock, hunting, railroad accidents and poisoning.
The number of wild asiatic elephants, is mainly found in India and some of South and Southeast Asia, has fallen below 50,000, only 15% of the historic average, according to the world’s broad funds for nature.