Year of arrival: 2015
Age at the time of arrival: 45 years old
Sex: Male
Recognisable features: One-eared elephant — presumably lost his ear when he was poached in the wild; tusker
Health condition when rescued: Underweight with a bony frame due to severe malnourishment; multiple bullhook wounds, stiff joints, and foot rot
Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC)
Favourite food: Sweet potatoes and pumpkins
Favourite activities: Long walks with his caregiver and playing with wooden log enrichment
Background: Suraj was living a life of abuse and neglect at a temple in Maharashtra. Ironically, Suraj, a word that means ‘sun’ in Hindi, was tied up in spiked chains in a dark, dank room with little food and water. Years of neglect led to a severely deteriorated health. Now residing at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Suraj is being treated with kindness and respect. | READ MORE ABOUT SURAJ
