India: Imtar Imam, 50, from Bihar state, declared that the two elephants had saved their lives and decided to write a will leaving most of the land for them.

Imam, who lives in a village in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, said he had changed his will and left 2.5 hectares of land for elephants Moti and Rani.

"I simply do not want Moti and Rani to be miserable later, they are just like my family," Imam said while bathing the elephants.

Imam runs a wildlife farm, raising Moti, 20, and Rani, 15, since they were born by a domesticated mother elephant.

Imam says he is growing in love with the two elephants because they saved his life from the criminal's muzzle last year, when he was murdered while sleeping.

"When I opened the door to see why they were roaring, I saw them chasing criminals," he said.

Imam said he would leave a smaller plot of land and a house for his wife and children, but they were still unhappy.

"They don't understand that elephants are not just a symbol. To me, they are a lifelong relationship. We love each other," he said.

The decision was made by Imam amid India is seething over the case of a pregnant elephant who died after eating a stuffed fruit in the state of Kerala, in the southern part of the country.

Asian elephants have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of the Red List.