Wild animals are meant to be free and flourishing in their habitats. There might be times that they require restriction, but it must not be done more than necessary. Animals deserve to enjoy their environment up until old age. They should be protected, respected, and not treated as a possession. The planet is their home; where they shouldn’t be kept chained or caged. If their habitat is threatened, the only right thing to do is bring them into sanctuaries. Caretakers will keep them safe and well-cared for without being restricted. Chains and cages aren’t only physically dreadful but also a heavy emotional weight.

Photo: Pixabay/Fearscare

Imagine yourself in the position of those animals who suddenly lost their freedom. It’s not delightful because being chained in one place can be traumatizing and self-degrading. Animals can feel those negativities, too. It’s scarier for them because, aside from restrictions, they are physically abused. For this reason, Aaron Jackson, founder of Planting Peace, began his journey to spark hope for wild animals, primarily elephants. Aaron was motivated by a documentary about the horrible abuse Asian Elephants have dealt with through the years. He immediately booked himself a flight to Southeast Asia — carrying hope for an elephant in chains.

Photo: Youtube/The Dodo

“It just so happened that it was around my birthday when I did that, so I made a promise to myself that every year for my birthday, I’ll rescue an elephant,” Aaron explained. A significant part of his elephant rescue journey was breaking a five-decade-old chain on a female elephant’s neck. With his help, the elderly mammal finally trekked after fifty years of enslavement. Aaron mentioned that the 30-foot chain around her neck weighed hundreds and hundreds of pounds. The poor female’s head and neck were strained from carrying such weight. Aside from that, she lacks nutrition due to insufficient food and care.

“I definitely knew that the clock was ticking. We need to get her to the sanctuary,” Aaron shared. “It was a really, really good feeling taking that chain off her. And that’s what it all comes down to is that moment.” Aaron walked with the elephant to celebrate her freedom on the way to the sanctuary. They trekked for a day and even gave her some delicious fruits while taking breaks. Their arrival at MandaLao Elephant Conservation was truly heartfelt and remarkable. Aaron shared that the senior elephant was flapping her ears out of joy. She can now freely walk and eat as many leaves as she wants.

Photo: Youtube/The Dodo

Aaron was still with her on her second day while she familiarized herself with the herd. Regaining freedom at an old age is truly touching because the elephant can enjoy her senior years with new friends. She won’t starve to death anymore and will get to be physically active again. There will be no more tears for the beautiful elephant Aaron rescued. Planting Peace has already given hope and a better future to four elephants.

Photo: Youtube/The Dodo

Besides rescue, the organization encourages people to stop visiting riding camps. Most visitors are tricked into thinking that all sanctuaries are home to big mammals. In truth, some places have issues with mistreatment and using elephants purely for business. If you support Planting Peace’s advocacy, you can visit their website to learn more about them. Reach a helping hand — pay it forward, just like Aaron did after watching a documentary. You could also follow their TikTok and Facebook account for more elephant rescue updates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UOwk3NPsIE