Search for: Sita

From day one, she turned our lives upside down. Sita’s 2,100 km journey to her new home with us, the maiden journey of our then newly designed elephant ambulance, began in the pouring rain. Torrential showers threatening to flood the city and sabotage the rescue, Sita and her companion elephant Mia were loaded by moonlight, during the briefest[…]

As they stand together, tall and regal, their trunks swaying gently, occasionally testing the wind or offering each other a reassuring pat, it makes it almost impossible to imagine that Mia and Sita have only been free elephants for four months. They seem calm and carefree, content to bask in the warm sun and in the comfort of each other’s[…]

Side-by-side on their shed’s cemented ground, legs restrained painfully, the two elderly female elephants cut a pitiable figure. Wildlife SOS senior veterinarian, Dr. Arun A. Sha, approaches Sita, the older of the two, and strokes her trunk gently before proceeding to examine her feet. Sita’s right front limb is outstretched awkwardly, the[…]

[caption id="attachment_9056" align="aligncenter" width="669"] #1 - Mia discovers that boarding a rescue truck is less scary when you've already made a new friend.[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_9037" align="aligncenter" width="420"] #2 - Sita dangles her trunk over the side both to get snacks and to wave at people she[…]

Great News! We've rescued two new circus elephants, Mia and Sita from Tamil Nadu who are currently traveling in India's first modern custom designed elephant ambulance. It will take them a couple of days to reach their new home, the Elephant Conservation and Care Center, in Mathura as they cover over 2,100 kms from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu[…]

The history of circuses and their treatment of elephants is a dark and sordid tale that spans many decades. For animals, bright lights and loud noises of the circus ring are a far cry from their natural habitat. Magnificent creatures from the wild were thrust into a life of captivity and servitude, all for the sake of human entertainment and[…]

Delhi has gone through several stages of urbanisation, albeit not in a positive direction for some of its original inhabitants. When the city was not there, the mighty Aravalli forests stood tall in its place, and the dense forests were home to numerous wild animals. As the green cover degraded and was slowly replaced by urban sprawl, the animals […]

Recognised as one of the world’s eight hotspots of biological diversity, the Western Ghats or the Western Mountain range in India hold immense ecological and cultural significance. These ethereal mountains run parallel to India’s western coast, around 30 to 50 kilometres inland. A part of these magnanimous mountains makes its way through the[…]

With over 30 species inhabiting various habitats across India, vipers are one of the most dreaded snakes. From snow-capped mountains and scorching deserts, to dense rainforests and human-dominated fields, these venomous snakes occupy a variety of landscapes. As members of the viperidae family, most of these snakes possess a common feature of[…]

Over a decade ago, two young Asiatic black bears were found huddled within the trunk of a burnt Chinar tree. In a most unfortunate incident, the mother of the cubs was attacked by villagers who perceived her as a threat. Leaving her young cubs in the only safe place she could find, the mother bear tried to defend herself — but in vain. She was[…]

The word Lizard itself can run a chill down one’s spine. Even the sudden movement of a Common house gecko on the wall is petrifying! The daunting eyes, bulbous webbed digits, and the ability of the animal to lose and regrow its tail (!) contribute to an ever lasting fright amongst so many of us. However, this is not all there is to know[…]

From parks to backyards, from forests to agricultural lands, from metropolitans to rural areas, from snow-capped mountains to wetlands… birds are everywhere if you look around! They move from one region to another, without a care for human-made geographical boundaries, forming various habitats along the way.  Birds that fly long[…]

“Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.” - John Muir With each stride in the forests, we are creating an impact. Over the last few years, a large number of people have been visiting the wild with their top-notch photography equipment to look out for something new and exciting to click. With an urge[…]

 A tale about brutality, perseverance, friendship, and love - the rescue story of Rhea is truly one for the books. Today, as we celebrate Rhea as the elephant of the month, we take a journey down memory lane, recounting her journey to freedom. With all its ups and downs, Rhea’s story is in fact more than a mere tale, but rather a guide to[…]

At the crack of dawn, a farmer in Otur of Pune district, Maharashtra, wakes up to do his daily chores. As he is about to run the motor pump on his well to water his crops, the sound of splashing water catches his attention. Curiosity peaked, he glances over the tethering edge of the well. As there are no protective walls around the well, the[…]

This is Mowgli’s story, but this Mowgli is different from one in the popular children's book – The Jungle Book. His past is more harrowing, a tale which should make anyone teary-eyed. In 2017, a 10-week-old sloth bear cub was found nursing from his mother’s lifeless body outside the Sanjay-Dubri National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The mother[…]

Elephant care is a matter of urgent importance for wildlife conservationists in India. With the dwindling elephant population, the focus is not only on the preservation of the elephant population in the wild but also on the welfare of the substantial number of captive elephants that are present within human settlements. Keeping this in mind, a[…]

Love - a chemical and an arguably ephemeral experience, has dictated the ebbs and flows of society for centuries.  Infact one might argue that the euphoria of love and its constant desire has shaped human communities worldwide. Despite its importance, love eludes us, leaving even the greatest thinkers puzzled about its exact nature. Yet,[…]

While Northern India is slowly feeling the drop in temperatures and longing for warmer weather, the mood at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura is quite the opposite. For our resident elephants winters is a time for warm oil massages, sun-bathing, long walks and mud baths, and Asha is no different! She enjoys going on her daily[…]

It’s been almost six years since the brave and vivacious Mia was rescued from the cycle of pain and misery she endured as a circus elephant. Reduced to a mere prop meant for human entertainment, Mia’s former life consisted of performances against her will, savage beatings under the guise of training, starvation and neglect by her[…]

The elephants under our care at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Rescue Centres have a routine charted out for them to suit their needs. Their caregivers are always around to ensure that the elephants are comfortable and never stressed. Just like all our elephants, Nina also has a routine that she's steadily settling into and in fact, now eagerly awaits […]

Making her way to the Yamuna riverside, blind Arya uses her trunk to trace the ground and carefully listens to the natural sounds around her. The excited chirping of birds and the soft current of the river water instantly calms her down as she lifts her trunk in delight. Zara, her dear companion and one of the youngest elephants under our care,[…]

What do Coconut, Laxmi, Ramu and Zara share in common? Apart from the fact that they’re all rescued from traumatic conditions, they are all highly mischievous and the youngest residents of the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. Learn all about how we care for the young elephants. [Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/Mradul[…]

The month of August is a busy month for our rescue teams. As Northern India rejoice in the monsoon season and welcome the holy month of “Shravan, our team is involved in seizures of snakes in debilitating conditions during this time – a reality we have been facing each year, in spite of the ban on snake charming. Our rescue teams are on[…]

Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Centre (ECCC) Mathura & Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF) A Application process Continue to complete the online process within our Volunteer page on the WSOS website. once you have confirmed your preferred dates and completed the required information fields a member of our team will get[…]

As one of our oldest and most experienced caregivers, Munna, gently calls out to Maya asking her to wait while he catches up and she immediately pauses in the middle of her step and lifts her trunk. Munna digs into his pockets and grabs a handful of peanuts to reward Maya for her cooperation and laughs to himself as they continue their walks[…]

Human encroachment in the form of gentrification, industrialization and rapid urbanization has robbed Indian leopards of their natural habitat. However, the majestic cat that was once unconfined to roam the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir is now destitute. Over time, their native territories have been replaced by densely populated human[…]

Over the past few days, CCTV footage of a leopard running out of a house in Agra has been doing the rounds on social media. This left the residents of Sitanagar, a densely populated residential area in Etmauddaula in a state of shock and fear when they discovered this reality right in front of their eyes! The CCTV footage of the leopard[…]

In leisurely walks by the riverside, Bhola often pauses, his trunk lightly traces the soft mud that he stands on. The relief of the natural substrata was the most basic necessity that Bhola was deprived of.  Bhola spent decades as a begging elephant forced to navigate the narrow streets of a village, violently prodded by a bullhook. […]

It is believed that not all heroes wear capes, some of them don a green Veterinary scrubs and set out each day to ensure that the animals under our care are doing fine. The world calls them “veterinarians” but we call them “our wildlife heroes”! This World Veterinary Day, we take you on some exclusive insights from the veterinarians of […]

By the time Rhea was rescued, she had lived over five decades in severe neglect and abuse as a performing elephant in a circus. Nobody is a stranger to the sheer brutality that is suffered by elephants for the sake of performing in front of an audience but for Rhea, the pain worsened after the curtains closed. She would be tethered to a filthy[…]

Wildlife SOS and Maharashtra Forest Department have joined forces in rescuing animals in distress in Maharashtra. From rescuing Sambar deers in human habitation to hand-rearing orphaned leopard cubs, the unwavering support of Maharashtra Forest Department has facilitated the smooth rescue, release and rehabilitation of these animals. A barn[…]

In the aftermath of Jai's successful rescue in record time, we are embarking on a new mission. At the cusp of 2021, our team is on its way to save Emma, an approximately 40-years old elephant who needs our help. Emma’s feet are in terrible condition and she lies down at every chance she gets just to avoid the pain. We know it has been just a […]

In the words of Greek philosopher Plutarch - “….the elephant also is become man's plaything, and a spectacle at public solemnities; and it learns to skip, dance, and kneel.” We find ourselves agreeing most vociferously with the ancient historian. The use of these majestic animals by humans to their own advantage since time immemorial […]

“They say an elephant never forgets. What they don't tell you is, you never forget an elephant.” Anyone who meets Maya will heartily agree with the above statement. Once you interact with the exuberant pachyderm, it is impossible to forget her vivacity and joie-de-vivre. As she stands tall and proud munching on fresh, juicy sugarcane next[…]

Considered the heart and soul of the Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, Maharashtra, Shivaji Modhe is the oldest member of the Wildlife SOS leopard care staff and has played an instrumental role in dedicating his entire life to the care of the majestic leopards. Presenting Shivaji Modhe, one of the first leopard caregivers at Wildlife SOS![…]

It is believed that everything that surrounds us imparts an important lesson, one way or the other. Surrounded by the pandemic, there has been a certain change of perception as we become a little more compassionate and conscientious to our environment and all its stakeholders. Each year, the 5th of September is celebrated as the Teachers’ Day,[…]

Wildlife SOS established the Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, Maharashtra, keeping in mind the increased incidents of man-leopard conflict in the proximity of the towns and villages. The land where these elusive big cats would walk free and unperturbed, now had sugarcane fields, human habitations and the endless reasons for man animal conflict. […]

There is something majestic and regal about a tusker walking, in all his grandiosity. For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a tusker in the wild is the high-point of their lives. However, the brutal trade of poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking has made these sightings in the wild rarer than ever. Of one such brutalising story is that of[…]

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the country under a complete lockdown with sealed borders that severely restrict movement, even for essential services, but that does not stop the team at Wildlife SOS from working non-stop to ensure that animals are rescued from distressful situations. As more people learn about our work, it becomes easier for them[…]

Year of rescue: 2009 Age at the time of rescue: 3 months old Sex: Female Personality traits: Shivani is wary of humans, and other leopards though she gets along well with her keeper. She shares an enclosure with Sitara and they get along nicely Recognisable features: Shivani is a 3-limbed feline, she lost her right limb when[…]

As Santa Claus found his way down the chimney awaiting some cookies and milk by the fireplace in houses all around the world, our teams at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility and Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, in Mathura, were no less than Santa as they donned bright red attires to bring Christmas home for our rescued elephants and bears. Like[…]

Prahlad’s journey with Wildlife SOS started four years ago along with Sita who was rescued from a circus in Tamil Nadu and brought under our care at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. Wildlife SOS also rehabilitates former elephant mahouts giving them opportunities to learn to care for the animals they work with by applying ethical and[…]

One of Wildlife SOS’s core priorities is to provide rehabilitative and hospice care to severely abused elephants, harmed during captivity and kept far away from the reach of any medical care or love and attention for their sore and afflicted bodies. Champa, the matriarch, was widely considered the inspiration for the creation of the Wildlife SOS […]

Rs. 7500 – the cost of a life, the cost of ruining one. Bella was purchased illegally by collective ownership in Sonepur mela, in Bihar. Thereon, started a life of torture and neglect for her in the small district of Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh near Lucknow. Presumably born into captivity and raised in one, Bella knew of nothing but to walk on hot[…]

With just a mere glance at Laxmi, one is overwhelmed by her sheer gigantic size that exceeds even elephantine proportions. While it might incite people to use adjectives like cute, cuddly, cushiony to describe her, our team understands the gravity of her extra weight. Prior to her rescue in 2013, Laxmi was a begging elephant in the bustling city[…]

Every day during evening hours, our visitors and volunteers are left awestruck with the sight of a magnificent tusker silently walking to the centre after his evening walk.  His long, regal tusks never fail to catch one’s attention and leave them fixed in their tracks wanting an uninterrupted sight of him.  Our dear Suraj, however, remains[…]

Come July and the eager anticipation of the monsoon showers marks the everyday mood of life in India. The rejuvenating raindrops bring the much-needed respite to the tired and withered souls from the harsh summers. Everybody collectively heaves a sigh of relief and rekindles their spirit. After facing nearly five decades of cruelty and suffering,[…]

While all over the world people were readying themselves to welcome in the New Year with energized celebrations and new promises for 2019, a begging elephant named Luna was again spending her day working on the streets despite the unbearable pain that she was constantly in. Luna’s story is yet another tale of the suffering endured by begging[…]

Climbing five stories to get a rat snake out of an air conditioning vent, or jumping twenty feet into a well to rescue a drowning jackal, there’s no limit to where Hatam Bansal will go to rescue an animal in distress. We sat down with Hatam to get to know one of the bravest and most dedicated rescuers on our Agra rapid response unit. How did[…]

Winter had barely left Mathura in February 2015 when Lakhi arrived at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre – she was over 60 years old, a blind former-begging elephant rescued from the streets of the city of Pune. She seemed timid, and nervous – blindness is an added burden for captive elephants that can never really tell where the next[…]

Just a month after his rescue in the first week of February 2017, Sanjay, formerly known as the Elephant With No Name, has much more than just a name to be proud of. His recovery, both mental and physical, is slowly but steadily progressing under the dedicated care of our wonderful veterinarians and the other staff at the Elephant Conservation and […]

An urgent call on the evening of the fifth of February set about a chain of events that resulted in an emergency rescue mission to bring to safety an elephant who we now call Sanjay. Sanjay’s rescue was incredibly sensitive due to the nature of his story and the covert and urgent basis on which he needed to be brought to safety. This made it[…]

We have received many questions from our supporters regarding the Precious Four since the announcement of their retirement. We are grateful for your concern and would like to try to address your questions with the FAQ below. Thank you again for your compassion regarding these beautiful elephants who have suffered so much. Is there any chance the[…]

With the monsoons hitting the city, we find a large number of reptiles struggling to find shelter in the urban jungle, spreading panic amongst the city-dwellers. Therefore, as a part of our public awareness initiative, we conduct several programs and live demonstrations on snakes to make people aware about the species of snakes commonly found in[…]

On the banks of the Dal lake in Kashmir, a massive Himalayan griffon vulture stretches out its wings, its massive 8-foot wingspan casting huge shadows on the ground as it attempts to thrust itself into the clear blue sky. Instead, it tumbles further towards the edge of the lake, and emerges struggling, with its feathers glinting with water. By[…]

The month of April marked yet another milestone for Wildlife SOS since the launch of our Circus Elephant campaign in 2015.  Our team of experts and veterinarians embarked on an epic journey to rescue our 8th circus elephant – Rhea and bring her home to our elephant haven in Mathura. After spending nearly 53 years as a performing elephant where[…]

We've got some great news to share with you about Rhea, the circus elephant in Tamil Nadu who we've been trying to reunite with her sisters, Mia and Sita, at our center in Mathura. She has been rescued by our team and has been loaded on the truck safely, packed with loads of fresh fruits and buckets of water to keep her tummy full and hydrated[…]

For nearly all 53 years of her life, Rhea has been a circus elephant, facing horrific abuse and neglect. Possibly poached from the wild as a calf, torn away from her family and herd, she spent the early childhood years of her circus life being beaten into submission, punished regularly and deprived of food and water. She was kept tied in confined[…]

At Wildlife SOS, the elephants that we rescue are generally in such dire conditions when they arrive at our centre, with bodies riddled with abscess wounds, overgrown nails and multiple injuries. Veterinary treatment is an essential part of their recovery, but can often be painful or stressful for the animals, as well as dangerous for the vets and […]

05th February2015. Everything around her was darkness. She could hear scuffling, urgent whispers, and the low rumble of a large vehicle pulling up beside her. She could feel hands on her tiny body, reassuring her and easing off the chains that held her in place. But she couldn’t see anything, it was all dark. The hands felt unfamiliar but[…]

25th January 2009. Rohidas Pawale is a poor farmer in the Belha village in Narayangaon district, Maharashtra. His sugarcane field stands tall and proud alongside the scrub jungles that once covered nearly all of the land in this area. From amidst the tall stalks of the crop, a tiny pitiful mewling can be heard, and Pawale tentatively enters the[…]

For Wildlife SOS, 2015 had its fair share of highs and lows, and brought with it all the memorable, pulse-racing moments of a busy year well-spent. Our teams, spread across India, are linked by a very special cause- rescuing wildlife in distress and bringing them to safety. These are the top 15 rescues we pulled off in 2015, thanks to your[…]

The elephant peering over the walls of the truck makes quite a sight for the people zooming by in their cars. Her trunk occasionally sniffs the air as if to check what progress the vehicle has made on its cross-country journey towards the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Mathura. Mia has little idea where she is headed, or what lies in store […]

The Aga Khan Foundation in India is run by inspiring people doing amazing welfare work in the country, so when Wildlife SOS got a call from their Delhi office asking for help, we were only too happy to step right up. The office building of the foundation is located in the capital nestled alongside a Nursery, full of squelching mud, fresh saplings […]

When Wildlife SOS’ Co-founders Kartick and Geeta first decided to start rescuing India’s dancing bears, they weren’t sure where to begin. The practice had been carried out for over 400 years, and the nomadic community that practiced it was dispersed across the country, forcing bears to perform in rural backwaters and streets all over[…]

Shubham has worked with Wildlife SOS for about two years now, assisting Rakhee Sharma with the Kalandar Rehabilitation Program. He can always be seen happily trotting from one state to another distributing school supplies and spreading smiles amongst the Kalandar families. We thought we’d talk to him to find out a little bit more about the work[…]

When the monsoons hit the city, the Wildlife SOS rapid response unit knows they’re in for a hectic month full of snake rescues as the reptiles struggle to find shelter in the urban jungle they live in. The Wildlife SOS rescue helpline (9871963535) rings off-the-hook with concerned people alerting the organization to snakes trapped in their[…]

It was Monday morning, and the staff at Wildlife SOS’ Delhi office were settling in for another week of work. At 12:40 am, the hotline rang for the first rescue of the week. The person on the other end of the line sounded distressed and reported that she was calling from the Tughlaqabad Air Force Station and a snake had been spotted on the[…]

The Gurgaon-Faridabad expressway extends from Sikanderpur, Gurgaon to Pali-Bhakri, Faridabad, connecting major industrial zones, tourist destinations and corporate offices, as well as the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Since becoming operational in 2012, and with subsequent expansions and widening, the nearly 30 km long road has become a[…]

Suzy is a blind performing elephant that has suffered a lot of neglect at the circus where she was forced to perform. She was chained most of the time with little or no exercise. Suzy is approximately 60 years old and it is evident from her stereotypic behavior that she was subjected to mental torture and continuous chaining & confinement.[…]

Wildlife SOS celebrated a Wildlife Week in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department at the Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, from October 1 to October 7, 2014; an effort by the Delhi based non-charity organization to sensitize the people of Bhopal about the diverse wildlife they co-exist with. The State Forest Minister of Madhya[…]

By Aishuwarya Sudarshan Nag Panchami is a festival celebrated in certain parts of India where the Cobras or Nagas are worshipped. What once used to be a worshipping of the Shiva energy has now turned into a lucrative business, where many members of a tribe skilled in catching and handling snakes start collecting the snakes from the wild,[…]

                                                      Currently, Baiju manages the Wildlife SOS Agra Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in India. However, in his early years with Wildlife SOS his focus was[…]

It's hard to believe, but it has been a year since Champa arrived at Elephant Haven. Before being taken in by Wildlife SOS, Champa spent far too many years as a working elephant, and we are so pleased to be able to provide her with a comfortable retirement. Here are a few details about Champa's new life, as told by Baiju Raj from Wildlife[…]

It was nine years ago when we first saw Champa (Hindustani for Jasmine). She walked at a painfully slow pace on the scorching tarmac on a very hot summer day on the Delhi Agra Highway. As she uncomfortably lumbered into a small hotel just off the bustling free way, she clearly seemed to be in agony. She was limping and a closer look showed an[…]