For twelve years, 35-year-old Raju was forced to dive on command in a narrow chlorinated tank at a Thai tourist aquarium, his ankles scarred from iron shackles and his eyes permanently inflamed from the harsh chemicals. Every day dozens of visitors watched the majestic animal perform underwater tricks while his skin cracked and his spirit faded.
Last week, after years of campaigning by marine activists and a court order, Raju was finally airlifted to a coastal rehabilitation centre. Keepers removed the last chains and guided him down a specially built ramp into the Andaman Sea for the first time since his capture as a calf.
When the salt water touched his feet, Raju paused, trunk trembling, then slowly walked forward until the waves covered him. Seconds later he surfaced with an explosive, joyful trumpet that echoed across the bay, spinning in circles and spraying water high into the air—an unrestrained celebration of freedom that left rescuers and onlookers sobbing on the shore.
