Incredible sight of the elephant that cried: For 50 years, Raju was held in spiked shackles which cut his legs, forced to beg, beaten and abused. On the day he was released tears rolled down his face

Raju the elephant was rescued by a team from North London-based charity Wildlife SOS after suffering for 50 years in the Uttar Pradesh area of India. Every day, the majestic animal was forced to hold out his trunk and beg for a few coins from passers-by - surviving only on plastic and paper for food. He was left bleeding from spiked shackles (top left) and was living on hand-outs from passing tourists after he was captured and tied up by his 'owner'. However, after 50 years of torture, the animal cried tears of relief (centre) after he was rescued in a daring midnight operation (bottom left) - fittingly on American Independence Day - and taken to the charity's Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura, south-east of Delhi (right).

Daily Mail (UK) | 6 July 2014