After four decades of entertaining in a Tamil Nadu circus, Rhea, a 53-year-old Asian elephant, is finally set to join her two pachyderm ‘colleagues’ at a Mathura rescue centre - thanks to the efforts of a wildlife NGO.
A Delhi based NGO at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, rescued Rhea on Saturday.
About 59 elephants are still performing in circuses across India. Nine recently rescued circus elephants were found to be in ghastly condition, the NGO said.
Rhea, who according to her rescuers needs immediate medical attention, has embarked on a 2,400 km journey in a special ambulance to meet her former circus colleagues ‘Sita’ and ‘Mia’, at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh.
“Rhea has suffered greatly, and has multiple scars and abscesses from the use of bull-hooks or ‘ankush’, and is in desperate need of medical attention. She has severely cracked toenails and swollen foot-pads that make it extremely painful and difficult for her to walk, resulting in an awkward limping gait,” said Arun A. Sha, veterinary director of Wildlife SOS after carrying out a medical examination of ‘Rhea’.
As per a 2011 survey, there are more than 3,500 elephants in captivity in India, employed mostly for different purposes like safari, timber camps, temples, circuses and others.
“Rhea was beaten and starved into submission to ‘break her spirit’ and force her to perform uncomfortable, painful tricks for the amusement of a circus audience. Rhea’s only solace was the companionship of two female elephants, Mia and Sita, who worked alongside her in the circus, sharing in her suffering.”