Lucky and Mohan

Help Spring Lucky the Elephant to Sanctuary and Save Mohan the elephant!

In Defense of Animals
Earlier this month, IDA put the spotlight on our 2014 number two Worst Zoo for Elephants, the San Antonio Zoo, where 54 year old Lucky, the last surviving Asian elephant, survives in a most unlucky predicament. Many of you sent in a lucky penny to the zoo in hopes that Lucky would get lucky on St. Patrick’s Day and be released to a sanctuary. Lucky needs to be retired to an accredited sanctuary where she can be with other elephants and live out the rest of her years in peace and comfort.
IDA is one of various entities to have identified San Antonio Zoo as uniquely horrendous over the years; the zoo has been featured on various international zoo lists in 2010, 2011, and 2014 – sometimes being the only United States or only AZA-accredited zoo on the global list! The San Antonio Zoo first appeared on IDA’s list in 2007, later earning the #1 worst zoo position for three consecutive years, in 20082009, and 2010, and then again in2013. After being inducted into IDA’s Hall of Shame for failing to make any changes to Lucky’s situation.
Lucky remains alone and isolated from others of her kind, having watched the deaths of at least five of her companions. San Antonio Zoo requires our attention because of the sheer and shameful cruelty they continue to force Lucky to endure.
There are several ways in which you can help Lucky, to help this special elephant be finally sent to an accredited sanctuary where she can live out her elder-years in peace …
Feeling lucky? Pursue all three suggestions below!
Feeling creative? Through the end of April, One World Conservation will be holding an interactive competition for a sign for Lucky’s release to a sanctuary. You can mail them handmade art for a sign that you have created for Lucky, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Go all out, or just use a regular sized sheet of paper. It’s up to you. No digital submissions. These must be handmade signs. The most creative one from each category wins a prize. For more details, please visit:https://www.facebook.com/events/1378539935803325/
Feeling demonstrative? If you are near San Antonio, Texas you can join a demonstration at the San Antonio Zoo scheduled for April 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event will be a show of solidarity between all of the organizations and people working together for Lucky. This rain or shine meeting will be held in the train depot parking lot at the San Antonio Zoo. For more information please visit:https://www.facebook.com/events/453674801452748/
Feeling literary? Anyone who cares about Lucky – anywhere – can write a letter to the San Antonio Mayor – since the San Antonio Zoo clearly doesn’t care. If you have not already, please sign our alert here.
Imagine being ripped away from your mother’s side as a baby and spending the next 50 years of your life in chains. That is the story of Mohan, a 56-year-old bull elephant who has spent almost his entire life in captivity. Mohan has been worked, tortured, and abused by his owner. Having lost custody of Mohan in a recent court case, his owner, Mr. Bhupendar Mishra, has now filed an appeal that threatens to delay his release and could even keep him chained up for the rest of his life.
We are asking District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi to throw out Mr. Mishra’s appeal to reclaim his elephant  and release the elephant to our rescue center.
We are Wildlife SOS, an organization dedicated to saving India’s wildlife. We previously started a petition to keep Raju the “crying elephant” from being returned to his cruel owners. And, after nearly half a million signatures, we won that battle! However, the story wasn’t all good news. We couldn’t rescue Mohan, Raju’s companion who also endured the same horrible treatment. Mysteriously, Mohan disappeared during our final rescue attempt and we were unable to locate him till recently.
Now we need your help. The court has already stripped Mr. Mishra’s right to keep him, but he has appealed the judge's ruling and wants to keep Mohan living a life of misery. But there is still hope. The judge can throw out his case and order Mohan into our custody. That’s where all of you come in! We need your support to help ensure Mohan’s release.
As a young elephant Mohan lost the freedom that every wild animal deserves. And for 50 years he has endured injuries, beatings, malnourishment, dehydration and even been forced to eat plastic. This is not how life should be for such a majestic creature. Join Wildlife SOS and ask District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi to throw out Mr. Mishra’s case and allow Mohan to enjoy the rest of his life in peace.