Uttar Pradesh(India): For the last 50 years Raju the elephant was held in chains.

He was beaten, abused and forced to go hungry until animal charity workers rescued him last week

It was pitiful to see him with his legs bleeding from spiked shackles and living on handouts from passing tourists.

This news was reported the Sunday People.

The elephant was so hungry that he used to eat plastic and paper to fill his empty stomach.

But fortunately, the animal charity workers swooped to save him in a daring midnight rescue operation on the streets of India.

When rescued from chains, there were tears flowing from his eyes.

Some experts believe that elephants too cry when overcome with emotion, just like humans.

Raju’s rescuers insist the giant animal wept as he realized his miseries were coming to an end.

Video on elephant torture