Animal Rahat first met Hiren when he was a young calf being cruelly trained to haul sugarcane on an unbalanced, heavy cart.

When Animal Rahat staff found him, they spoke with his owner, unhitched him from the cart, and removed the painful rope strung through his nose that his owner had used to control him. The team took Hiren into their care, and he’s been a resident at one of the group’s sanctuaries ever since, growing into a healthy and handsome bullock.

After more than three years of sanctuary life, Hiren’s grown to become a mentor for newly arrived calves, helping them comfortably adjust to their peaceful new surroundings.

So when 4-month-old calf Siddhu reached the sanctuary after losing his mother in a tragic accident, Hiren wasted no time forming a friendship and soothing the grateful, grieving calf.