Sunder, the elephant who was rescued from a life in chains at a temple in Kolhapur, is now enjoying his life chain-free at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP). You may recall that BBP is a free-roaming elephant sanctuary on fenced, forested land that allows elephants to move about rather than be chained in place, the common way in which captive elephants in India are kept.

A state-of-the-art corral made of steel pipes was also created for emergencies and veterinary care to protect Sunder and his elephant friends as well as their human guardians. It allows rewards, never punishment, to be the means of communication. The pipes allow treats to be passed through when Sunder responds to commands to help him, such as for foot cleaning.

Sunder roaming freely inside the corral

The corral is also used for elephants in musth (a state of sexual urge in male elephants), instead of the chains that are usually used in India. During musth, elephants pull at their chains with even greater might, causing huge, deep, painful wounds.

Here is Sunder with his girlfriend, Menka, in the musth corral. He goes to the water and bathes and wanders about with the herd during the day outside the corral, but he likes the corral and wanders into it at will. He stays in it at night to keep him safe from wild elephants. How wonderful not to be bound by chains or beaten!

Sunder and Menka eating green grass