If we look back into our history, what would it say about how we treated animals?

Mankind evolved with animals around them.

While some were lucky enough to get a place of honor like dogs, others are not so fortunate.

Some are hunted for sport, like the mighty savannah lions. Some were consumed to extinction. Others were enslaved just so we could be entertained.

Two elephants had to live through fifty years before they could taste freedom.

Meet Mia and Sita.

Mia and Sita, two 50-year-old pachyderms. They both spent most of their lives performing for a circus based in Tiruvannamalai, India.

When we were kids, we were made to believe that animals working for our entertainment love their jobs.

However, the truth shows that a lot of animal performers are being treated badly. Sita and Mia are no exceptions.

The circus kept them shackled.

This meant that the two behemoths can’t walk around freely to get the necessary leg time.

They also had a very small perception of the world as they could only walk where their chains permitted them.

“Both Mia and Sita have very painful feet.” Wildlife SOS, the organization that made their rescue possible, said in a post.

Sita endured years of discomfort.

As a result of being chained all day, an injury she incurred never really had the chance to heal properly.

It contributed to restless nights as she can’t even posture herself properly when sleeping.

The pain is something she doesn’t have to endure any longer, however.

The two were transported to the Elephant Conservation and Care Center.

The mammoth undertaking was made possible by a specially fitted truck that could fit an elephant, an electric ramp, showers, and room for the veterinary team.

After traveling for over 1,300 miles, the elephants finally found a home.

And it was the right home.

One of the rescued elephants was so relieved that it had to lie down the moment it reached the sanctuary.

Sita was overjoyed with the upgrade.

In a video shared by the organization, Sita can be seen doing a leisurely stroll around the protected area.

It’s a bit difficult for her to walk because of her frozen joint but she made sure that she enjoyed every minute of it.

Meanwhile, Mia was getting some TLC.

Besides getting the necessary treatment for her feet, she also enjoyed plenty of time walking around the enclosure and interacting with nature and other inhabitants.

Eventually, they were joined by their sister Rhea and the elephant pod was reunited once more. Her arrival was much needed, especially after Sita passed away.

Her life now was far from what she had to endure.

“Imagine spending four decades as a performing elephant in a circus executing unnatural tricks, surviving on bare minimums and always confined to one place unless required,” the organization shared in their post.

Now, together with Rhea, her constant companion, they are now surrounded by people who care for them.

Hopefully, as more people become aware of the horrors of entertainment captivity, we can bring other animals to justice and into the new life they deserve.

See Sita enjoying a leisurely walk in her beautiful new home in the video below!

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Source: Facebook – Wildlife SOS, The Dodo, Huffpost