In the past few weeks, India has seen brutality towards animals and the death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala is one such example. This incident took the life out of many people and they lost faith in humanity. However, a kind-hearted man from Bihar has shown benevolence towards animals.
Mohammad Akhtar, an avid animal lover has bequeathed his entire wealth for the care and safety of two elephants. He mentioned that one of these elephants changed his life by saving him from a criminal. This feeling changed everything and Akhtar decided to return the deed in his own way.
The 50-year-old who hails from Janipur in Phulwari Sharif near Patna has two elephants aged 20 and 15 years. Moti and Rani, who both live with him.
Akhtar says elephants came to him as a family heritage, and that Moti and Rani are the “children” of those elephants. “I have lived with them since my childhood. The two are my family members,” he said, adding there are people who would like him to take care of the animal brought by them.
Akhtar is also chief of the Asian Elephant Rehabilitation and Wildlife Animal Trust (AERAWAT), an NGO. “I gave my 6.25-acre land to the two elephants to ensure that when I am not alive, the animals do not suffer hunger,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by IANS.
He also revealed how Moti saved his life. “Moti had gone along with a mahout to Bhojpur district’s Shahpur area, where he fell ill. I had to rush there to treat him. One day, while I was asleep there, I was woken up by Moti’s roar. I saw one man pointing his gun just outside the window. I ran away to save my life,” recalls Akhtar.
The elephant lover also trains mahouts. He says if the government does not intervene to protect the elephant, “the time is not far when we would see the elephant only in books”. He says the elephants are headed for villages in search of food.
