PHOTOS: Sunder and Lakshmi Take a Bath

Posted on June 28, 2014 at 9:32 am by PETA

We know we just reported on Sunder, but we thought that perhaps – like us – you can’t get enough of the photos of his progress. Sunder, who endured six years of abuse and isolation at the Jyotiba temple, was moved to the Bannerghatta Biological Park by the order of the Supreme Court of India after it ruled in PETA’s favour for Sunder’s rescue. He has now been moved from the section of the elephant care centre visible to the public to a protected area inside the forest, where he can live more like an elephant should.

The following are a few more heart-warming photos of Sunder and his friend Lakshmi:

Sunder’s leg was severely wounded by tight chaining. Although there is still progress to be made, it is now healing.

Sunder and Lakshmi have lunch. They’ll need the energy to play around in the pond later.

Here, Sunder is being readied to take a dip in the pond. Because he endured violent beatings and solitary confinement for much of his life, [https://www.petaindia.com/blog/caught-video-elephant-sunder-beaten/] his new caretakers are still handling him cautiously and keeping him lightly restrained but permitting him to move around. Abused elephants commonly hurt or kill people out of distrust, [http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/elephant-went-fury-and-killing-many-during-kerela-festival2007/1/156056.html] so the caretakers are still a little apprehensive.

Here, Sunder is being readied to take a dip in the pond. Because he endured violent beatings and solitary confinement for much of his life, his new caretakers are still handling him cautiously and keeping him lightly restrained but permitting him to move around. Abused elephants commonly hurt or kill people out of distrust, so the caretakers are still a little apprehensive.