AN elephant held in captivity for 50 years is dying in agony and has had its tusks chopped off.

Gajraj, 63, is kept in chains as a tourist attraction at a temple in Satara, India.

10 Gajraj has been kept chained as a tourist attraction for decades

The 63-year-old had previously been used by handlers to beg for money from visitors but is now so ill he has been dumped there for years to die.

He is imprisoned just seven minutes walk from the popular tourist spot of Sri Bhavani Museum, where British masterpieces by artist Henry Moore sit.

Shackled with chains, the elephant’s home is listed as a must see of “serenity and bliss” on tourist websites.

10 Due to constant agony experts fear he is slipping into madness

He has painful abscesses on his hind quarters and elbows caused by continuous chaining on hard flooring and no regular veterinary care.

The animal also sufferers overgrown and broken toenails on all four of his feet and he can only shift his enormous weight from one to the other to try to cope.

But more worryingly Gajraj is exhibiting classic severe psychological anguish, such as head-bobbing and swaying, showing mental distress caused by social isolation and continuous abuse in captivity.

10 Gajraj has abscesses caused by his chains

10 He constantly tries to free himself which is a symptom of his psychological deteriation

10 The abscesses are on his elbows and hind quarters

He is not even walked any more as he is too ill to be exploited by his mahout handlers for begging.

Sweets and leftovers offered by people caused intestinal properties so he is not even cared for because he can no longer make money.

The elephant’s shocking condition was laid bare in disturbing video and footage supplied anonymously to this paper.

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Often the creatures are kept in temples to attract tourists and add lustre to the surroundings, due to the religious links of the animals to Hinduism.

Calls – today backed by The Sun - have been made to free Gajraj and allow him to be moved to animal charity Wildlife SOS’s Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura.

He is currently in the custody of Her Highness Shrimant Gayatri Devi Pant Pratinidhi, the Queen of Aundh.

10 His ankles have been rubbed raw by the shackles

10 Gajraj pulls against his chains compulsively never allowing the wounds to heal

Last night campaigners Save The Asian Elephants said the creature would be in psychological turmoil.

Duncan McNair, CEO of STAE, said: “It is very harrowing footage. The video demonstrates classic psychological damage to this hugely intelligent, knowing creature. To be tethered like this is an hourly torture for them.

“I have seen the depths of despair these precious creatures are put through.

“I can categorically confirm this elephant is in extreme psychological distress.

“STAE utterly respects India and it’s standing in the world and the people and their faiths, but sadly many there as well as in the West are unaware what desecration is being done to their elephants.

10 Gajraj is dying in plain sight about 7 mins walk from popular tourist attraction

10 Someone has sawed his tusks off for profit

The group called for new legislation and talks to prevent the creatures being subjected to such cruel treatment and the growing risk of extinction.

Mr McNair added: “STAE wants the law changed here so that facilities offering Asian elephants cannot be advertised by Western tour companies unless they can prove on credible evidence that they are not being or have ever been abused.

"The companies’ often reckless conduct fosters such abuse and imperils tourists too when, as we see increasingly, the elephants are tormented to the point of attacking those around them, often fatally. All soundings show overwhelming public support for such a new law.

“The hope is that our Prime Minister will honour her predecessor’s election pledge to the British people to assist the Indian government to help these elephants.”

His ivory tusks are shown to be already removed in the footage and the excuse is often given as this is to help handlers.

10 Gajraj goes through the motions of trying to free himself from his chains

But in reality the ivory is frequently sold and used in medicines, giving oxygen to a dangerous trade.

A source who visited the temple told The Sun: “Veterinarians who have paid frequent visits to Gajraj over the years describe being assaulted by the foul stench of his accumulated dung and urine before they even see him.

“He was taken to Aundh when he was 12 years old, way back in 1965, from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, an 800-kilometre journey that took a month and a half. He's been in the same place - Yamai Devi Temple in Aundh, Satara district - for the last 51 years.”

A representative for authorities in the area declined to comment.

Save The Asian Elephants: www.stae.org.