Two Elephants Held Captive In Circus For 50 Years Are Finally Freed — They Find Immense Happiness & Comfort

Jan 07, 2022

Elephants are large but their capacity to feel emotions and grieve is even larger. These gentle giants have incredible memories and are very socially connected creatures. They are similar to humans in that their young have many years of dependency, giving them a nurturing spirit. Knowing all of this about elephants makes it even more painful when confronted with the animal abuse that happens in circuses. Two elephants had lived in bad conditions in a circus in India for 50 years, and were finally rescued in 2015.

The abused elephants, Mia and Sita, were chained by both their front and back legs and forced to stand constantly. One of the elephants hadn’t been able to lay down due to a leg fracture for at least a year. This treatment badly injured the elephants’ feet as well and they required medical care. There are visible scars on both of the elephants’ bodies and their majestic ears as well. It is painful to witness, but there is a happy ending. Thanks to the organization Wildlife SOS, both Mia and Sita were freed from their tortuous lives and given a second chance.

These elephants are just a couple of the animals that have been saved by Wildlife SOS, and their efforts to free and rescue abused animals are making a serious difference. The joy and relief are evident in the elephants’ behavior as they get to wade in pools for the first time in their 50 years and eat a healthy diet. The organization also places a lot of focus on helping these animals heal psychologically, and acknowledge that they have been traumatized by humans in the past. Read on to learn more about Wildlife SOS and how they helped Mia and Sita. 

On the Wildlife SOS Facebook page, they share updates about the animals and how their care and rescues are going. Mia and Sita were saved in November 2015, and at that time the organization shared a post that showed how injured the elephants’ feet were. They wrote: 

“Many of you have messaged us asking us about Sita's leg. Both Mia and Sita have very painful feet. For Sita, her situation is exacerbated by the fact that she has a poorly healed fracture in her front leg that has limited her movement... thus preventing her the ability to lie down and rest. We know it has been at least a year since she has laid down and slept.”

The years of prolonged standing did severe damage to both of the elephants. The organization added:  “Once we get them to the sanctuary, we will be doing therapy for their feet and finding ways to take the weight off their legs so they can heal and get some much-needed rest.”

In November 2016, Wildlife SOS celebrated the elephants’ first year of freedom and posted a video on Youtube. The caption reads:

“This Thanksgiving as we celebrate Mia and Sita's Rescue Anniversary, team Wildlife SOS is extremely grateful to all our supporters for making their 1st year of freedom, the best year of their lives!”

Mia and Sita are seen in the video playing in the water and receiving baths as well as taking advantage of all of the open space to walk and frolic together. They were even reunited with Rhea, another elephant that had been in the circus with them. All of these animals are well on their way to healthier and happier lives.

Does your heart go out to these animals? How did this story make you feel? Let us know and be sure to send this along to the elephant lovers that you know.