Raju the elephant has been kept in chains for 50 years. As he was finally rescued from captivity, the elephant shed some tears. The 50-year-old elephant had water streaming down his face as a group of rescuers also risked their safety as they intended to free Raju the elephant that every night on Wednesday.

Wildlife experts and veterinarians from Wildlife SOS-UK, which is based in Britain, were joined by 20 more Forestry Commission officers, as well as two policemen. Their night-time rescue mission was very dangerous, and they needed the focus of each member of their rescue team.

The group then set forth to the Uttar Pradesh region of India, where Raju the elephant was reportedly being held captive. According to the reports, Raju the elephant was being beaten every day and was also being abused by the people who owned him. In fact, he was being used to beg for money from others.

According to those who saved Raju the elephant from his horrific ordeal, the elephant immediately wept as soon as the team took the shackles off of him. Perhaps, it was his response to the realization that his half-century suffering has now come to an end.

Pooja Binepal of Wildlife SOS-UK said, "Raju was in chains 24 hours a day, an act of intolerable cruelty. The team was astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue. It was incredibly emotional. We knew in our hearts he realized he was being freed."

Raju the elephant was reportedly snatched from his mother when he was still young. During his 50 long years in captivity, he is believed to have had 27 owners, as he was passed from one owner to another. He was also being shamefully used as a prop for begging.

The mission to rescue him was being planned since the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department reported the poor elephant's suffering to the charity. A court order was allowed for the rescuers to save Raju the elephant from the hands of his abusive owners. However, the owners blatantly refused to give him up.