FB 2338 - my efforts in saving this elephant .. we lost her today ..🙏🏻😞
Dear Amitabh,
For most of her life, Luna was invisible. Nobody noticed her chains, her wounds, or her loneliness. Although eventually she could barely even walk, she remained shackled - still, people just ignored her and passed her by. Luna’s struggles were unmistakable, yet no one stepped up to show her any kindness or mercy.
Elephants have complex inner lives, and we find ourselves wondering what she was thinking all those years. Did she have hope that things would change? What were her dreams? Did she yearn for freedom?
Finally, after 50 years in chains, one person noticed her and took action. In December of 2018 we received photos and videos of her that pierced our hearts. We wanted more than anything to help her, to give her everything she’d been deprived of for so many decades, to bring her into the Wildlife SOS family.
We knew even then that Luna would likely be a hospice care patient. We wondered, would people want to donate money to help an elephant who didn’t have long to live? We shared her story and photos with you and held our breath.
Your compassion for her, and your willingness to give money to help her was overwhelming and humbling. You could see Luna. You could see she was worth helping. You could see that giving her even a few months of loving care and freedom was a worthwhile goal.
In late January we began the arduous journey to bring her to our hospital. Then, just a few hundred miles from our destination, an exhausted Luna lay down and was unable to get back up. When she finally stood again, we felt the earth move with joy and we could almost hear people cheering her on from around the world. She arrived at the Elephant Hospital in the middle of the night. Luna walked off the ambulance for her first time as a free elephant.
Those next few days were filled with wonderful firsts. She took long baths, tasted new foods, and made friends with everybody. As she did this, we got a more complete picture of just how sick Luna was. With each new evaluation we did, we grew increasingly alarmed.
She always had somebody with her, day and night. Usually she had several people close by. Holly, the blind elephant, was also growing increasingly attached to Luna. We didn’t want to let her out of our sight - in case something happened, we didn’t want her to be alone.
Last week she lay down and didn’t want to get up. Although we felt panicked about letting her stay down too long, it was clear that she did not feel like she could stand again. We stayed by her side and hand fed her and hoped that with some rest she would rebound.
That moment never came, and today she left us.
On behalf of Luna, we are grateful to you for your compassion. She didn’t experience freedom long, but because of you she had two months of mercy, kindness, dignity, understanding and love.
She was only with us for a couple of months but we will be forever changed by the opportunity to care for her. Luna was a fighter and her spirit will live on in all of our hearts. Thank you for seeing her and for believing in her. In Luna’s beautiful memory, let’s work together to help other elephants come out from the shadows. Together, we can end this tragedy of abuse and cruelty.
We already miss you deeply, Luna. Thank you for trusting us, and for letting us see your beautiful spirit. Goodbye, dear friend.
FB 2338 - my efforts in saving this elephant .. we lost her today ..🙏🏻😞 Dear Amitabh, For most of her life, Luna was invisible. Nobody noticed her chains, her wounds, or her loneliness. Although eventually she could barely even walk, she remained shackled - still, people just ignored her and passed her by. Luna’s struggles were unmistakable, yet no one stepped up to show her any kindness or mercy. Elephants have complex inner lives, and we find ourselves wondering what she was thinking all those years. Did she have hope that things would change? What were her dreams? Did she yearn for freedom? Finally, after 50 years in chains, one person noticed her and took action. In December of 2018 we received photos and videos of her that pierced our hearts. We wanted more than anything to help her, to give her everything she’d been deprived of for so many decades, to bring her into the Wildlife SOS family. We knew even then that Luna would likely be a hospice care patient. We wondered, would people want to donate money to help an elephant who didn’t have long to live? We shared her story and photos with you and held our breath. Your compassion for her, and your willingness to give money to help her was overwhelming and humbling. You could see Luna. You could see she was worth helping. You could see that giving her even a few months of loving care and freedom was a worthwhile goal. In late January we began the arduous journey to bring her to our hospital. Then, just a few hundred miles from our destination, an exhausted Luna lay down and was unable to get back up. When she finally stood again, we felt the earth move with joy and we could almost hear people cheering her on from around the world. She arrived at the Elephant Hospital in the middle of the night. Luna walked off the ambulance for her first time as a free elephant. Those next few days were filled with wonderful firsts. She took long baths, tasted new foods, and made friends with everybody. As she did this, we got a more complete picture of just how sick Luna was. With each new evaluation we did, we grew increasingly alarmed. She always had somebody with her, day and night. Usually she had several people close by. Holly, the blind elephant, was also growing increasingly attached to Luna. We didn’t want to let her out of our sight - in case something happened, we didn’t want her to be alone. Last week she lay down and didn’t want to get up. Although we felt panicked about letting her stay down too long, it was clear that she did not feel like she could stand again. We stayed by her side and hand fed her and hoped that with some rest she would rebound. That moment never came, and today she left us. On behalf of Luna, we are grateful to you for your compassion. She didn’t experience freedom long, but because of you she had two months of mercy, kindness, dignity, understanding and love. She was only with us for a couple of months but we will be forever changed by the opportunity to care for her. Luna was a fighter and her spirit will live on in all of our hearts. Thank you for seeing her and for believing in her. In Luna’s beautiful memory, let’s work together to help other elephants come out from the shadows. Together, we can end this tragedy of abuse and cruelty. We already miss you deeply, Luna. Thank you for trusting us, and for letting us see your beautiful spirit. Goodbye, dear friend.
