India, Nov. 18 -- Two beloved elephants at Wildlife SOS's Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura mark a major milestone this month, 15 years of freedom after being rescued from lives of suffering. Maya, once a performing elephant forced to entertain crowds in a circus, and Bijli, formerly used for begging on Agra's streets until a tragic accident led to her rescue, were brought to the centre in 2010. Today, both elephants stand as living testaments to recovery, compassion, and the transformative power of regular, tailored medical interventions and care.

Rescued from years of abuse, Maya and Bijli arrived at ECCC bearing deep emotional and physical scars. Over the past decade and a half, the two female elephants have flou...