流泪的大象：印度大象被囚禁虐待50年后获救

These incredible pictures show the moment an elephant who was held in chains and beaten and abused for fifty years cried as he was released to freedom.

这些令人难以置信的照片记录了这样一刻：一只被锁链锁住、鞭打、虐待长达五十年之久的大象在获得自由的那一瞬间落泪了。

Raju the elephant was left bleeding from spiked shackles and living on hand-outs from passing tourists after he was captured and tied up by his ‘owner’.

自从大象拉珠被它的“主人”捕获并囚禁之后，它就以路过游客的施舍为生，带刺的铁镣让它鲜血直流。

But, after 50 years of torture, the animal cried tears of relief after he was rescued by a wildlife charity in a daring midnight operation – fittingly on American Independence Day.

但是，在遭受了五十年的磨难之后，一个野生动物慈善团体展开了一场大胆的午夜营救行动，将它救了出来。这一天正是美国独立日，大象流下了释怀的泪水。

North London-based charity Wildlife SOS stepped in to save Raju from dying in his bonds after learning of his plight in India.

这一野生动物紧急呼救慈善组织的本部在伦敦北部，其工作人员定说印度听大象拉珠的苦难经历，决定挺身而出，不让拉珠死在镣铐之中。

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.

每天，这只大型动物都被迫伸出象鼻，向路过的行人们祈讨几个铜板——唯一的食物就是塑料和废纸。

However, last week, a 10-strong team of vets and wildlife experts from the charity were joined by 20 forestry department officers and six policemen to seize Raju from his suffering in the Uttar Pradesh area of India.

然而，就在上周，一个由数十名兽医、野生动物专家组成的慈善团体，加上20名林业部官员和6名警察展开了联合行动，他们来到印度北部邦，将拉珠从它的苦难中解救了出来。

The mission took place under the cover of darkness, as fewer people would be around for the dangerous rescue and the animal could be protected from the searing heat of the sun.

这个营救行动是在黑夜的掩护下展开的。一来夜晚行人较少，不会有人干预这次冒险的营救行动，二来也能避免大象受到白天酷日的灼晒。

A confiscation process went through the courts as Raju's owner did not have any legal documents for his possession meaning the charity could rescue him from suffering.

接着在法院里展开了一系列的押收程序。由于拉珠的主人并没有任何法律文件证实他对拉珠的所有权，那么慈善团体有权将其从磨难中救助出来。

It is not known exactly how Raju came into his plight, as little is known about his early years, but the charity believes he was poached from his mother as a young calf.

人们并不知道拉珠最初是如何被擒获的，它的早年生活鲜为人所知。但是慈善组织认为，拉珠是在年幼的时候从母象身边被偷猎者捕获的。

Over the weekend, Raju received emergency medical attention to his wounds as well as a proper bath and food.

在周末，人们为拉珠身上的伤口实施了医疗救护，还给它洗了澡，喂了食。

The charity has now launched a campaign to raise ￡10,000 to help Raju begin the start of his new life in a new enclosure which will allow him to roam with his adoptive family.

现在，慈善组织发起了一项募捐活动，他们要为拉珠筹集1万英镑的善款，让它能够在一个新的栖息地展开新的生活，和它的新家人一起自由漫步。