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​Elephant Calf Found Chained In Tiny Concrete Cell

​Elephant Calf Found Chained In Tiny Concrete Cell

The elephant, known as Suman, is thought to have been taken from his mother, before being held ahead of a sale

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A heartbreaking video released by wildlife charity Wildlife SOS shows a six-year-old elephant being held captive by black market traders in India.

WARNING: DISTRESSING FOOTAGE

Campaigners are calling on the traffickers to release the elephant, who can be seen repeatedly bobbing its head in the video - clearly traumatised at being held in captivity.

The elephant, known as Suman, is thought to have been taken from his mother, before being held ahead of a sale to a private buyer, temple or circus.

In the video Suman bobs her head from side to side, which is a movement that experts claim is a sign of stress, caused by her illegal incarceration.

Wildlife SOS, a non-profit wildlife charity, is calling on the government in Rajasthan, India, to arrest the captors and seize Suman.

SWNS

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said: "Suman is a helpless elephant calf separated from her mother.

"There are other calves that suffer a similar fate like her.

"Until now she's had no one to fight for her, to give her a voice.

"Several elephants are living this life in India but they remain hidden and suffer from an illegal existence.

"We are reaching out to our supporters and elephant lovers across the world to stand strong for Suman and ensure her future is safe with us and that she is reunited with her sister, Peanut."

SWNS

Her captors reportedly purchased Suman illegally from a circus in Maharashtra before the country's government ordered that remaining elephants were seized.

Campaigners claim her captors rent out elephants for functions, and have plans to sell Suman to a 'rich client'.

Wildlife SOS has since set up a petition to help try and save her.

A month ago Wildlife SOS also released upsetting footage of another elephant, Laxmi, who had also been living in captivity.

The 30-year-old elephant was beaten and starved to death by her owners, having been poached from the wild as a calf and separated from both her mother and her herd.

Her bones had grown brittle, and skin sagged over her bony frame. In the video you can also see that her legs had also caved inwards, as Laxmi was no longer able to support the weight of her own body.

Animal welfare organisation Wildlife SOS informed the Forest Department about what had happened, but when a team of forest officers arrived, the owners had already disappeared.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: World News, Elephant, Animals, India