Elephant Of The Month – Arya

Imagine living your life surrounded by the blaring horns of vehicles. Arya was forced to spend most of her life in similar horrifying conditions, as she trudged through narrow lanes and crowded streets, dotted with broken pieces of glass and pebbles – nowhere near the natural, soft surfaces which elephants are meant to walk on. Being[…]

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Staff Profile – Sonam Sambharya

Sonam, Account Officer at Wildlife SOS, has a heart-to-heart chat with us about her work and her experiences as a part of the Wildlife SOS team! With over eight years of experience under her belt, Sonam is now a veteran at this organisation. What do you do at Wildlife SOS? How long have you been here? I mainly work with everything that[…]

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Wildlife SOS Conducts Education Drive in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana!

W.B Yeats once said, “Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.” In 2002, Wildlife SOS sparked the flame of education amidst the Kalandar community. Today,  20 years later, this flame has lit up the lives of 1,360 Kalandar children, with more and more gaining access to education.  Education Support is[…]

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Tracing Arya’s First Year Of Freedom With Wildlife SOS

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,[…]

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Arya’s Bell Comes Off!

Celebrating two years of the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, we decided to mark the special occasion with Arya’s bell removal! Wildlife SOS Co-founder and CEO, Kartick Satyanarayan, with Arya! [Photo (C) Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak] Arya is a blind elephant who lost her vision due to an untreated injury in the eye, and has spent most part […]

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An Update on Arya’s Progress

Arya has rightly lived up to her name, especially with her feisty and indomitable spirit resembling the popular character Arya in the TV series “Game of Thrones”. There is a certain confidence and grace that sets Arya apart from our resident pachyderms, especially in the way she stands, with her head slightly raised and her curious trunk[…]

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Arya Arrives at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital!

Enveloped with darkness and worked to the point of over exertion, an ailing and exhausted elephant would timidly make her way through the streets of a small town in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, unsure of the next step that she would take owing to her complete loss of vision. She worked through her blindness bravely and started using her trunk to survey […]

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Arya

Year of arrival: 2020 Age at the time of arrival: about 50 years-old Sex: Female Personality traits: Capricious and alert Recognisable features: Depigmented borders on her ears, almost as tall as Phoolkali, stands with her head slightly raised Present health condition: Completely blind in both eyes, overgrown and cracked[…]

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Team Accenture Volunteers At Friendicoes & Wildlife Rescue Center Haryana

It was an exciting day at the Friendicoes SECA shelter in Gurgaon, Haryana as a team from Accenture came to work as volunteers at the shelter for animals. The eager team consisting of 16 volunteers arrived in the morning and were greeted by Dr. Abhishek, Senior Veterinarian, and the Wildlife SOS and Friendicoes staff present there. Following[…]

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Haryana Leopard released back into the wild.

With massive deforestation and man animal conflict becoming an everyday occurrence Wildlife SOS once again played nurse to an injured Leopard that fell prey to mob fury in a village in Haryana. The young female Leopard, about 2 years old, had strayed into Ahmadbas village in Mewat district of Haryana. The villagers informed the local forest[…]

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Nourishing Our Elephants: What’s On The Menu?

The largest terrestrial mammal traversing Asia, the Asian elephant, has a diet that is as massive as its size. Interestingly, in the wild, these humongous herbivores spend two-thirds of their day foraging, consuming up to 150 kilograms of food! Tragically, the dietary requirements of elephants in cruel captivity are gravely overlooked. Forced[…]

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Trunk Tales: Endearing & Inspiring Erika! 

“Where there is a will, there is a way!” The life story of Erika, an elephant who is now nearly 65 years old, has been full of ups and downs. It is her willpower that proves how true the above proverb is. Erika was used as a begging elephant who would ‘bless’ people while walking for hours on end on the busy streets of Haryana. If this […]

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Staff Profile Of The Month: Debbie Haynes

They say it’s never too late to follow your dreams, and if we were to illustrate this through someone’s life, it would surely be of Debbie Haynes. This month, we shine a spotlight on our ever-shining star who is Wildlife SOS’s UK Manager. Her journey with the organisation began in 2018 as an active volunteer at our centres, during which[…]

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Trunk Tales: Present Not Tense For Jasmine

Everyone appreciates a good contrast—whether it’s the vivid, complementary colours picked for wall paints, the balance of sweet and spicy in our meals, or the striking contrast vibrant fruits and flowers give against lush green leaves. We find beauty in all such contrasts around us. At Wildlife SOS, the contrast we cherish the most is in the[…]

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Enriching Elephant Lives Through Enrichments

Elephants are known for their colossal size, strength, complex behaviours, and remarkable intelligence. These highly social animals possess well-developed cognitive and sensory capacities adapted to their natural environments. In the wild, elephants lead dynamic lives, constantly engaged in activities related to foraging, grazing, and defending[…]

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Trunk Tales: Play All Day, Lilly’s Way!

Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC) is widely known for the loud trumpets of its most famous residents: Erika, Ella, Lilly, and Jasmine. The four companions form a tight-knit herd and barely leave each other’s side. However, they weren’t always like that. Each of the four carries the scars of adversity before they found solace and sisterhood […]

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Helping Elephants Beat The Heat In Summers!

As the blistering heat engulfs regions of Northern India, temperature records break the mercury scale, shooting as high as 45.6 degrees in Mathura. Humans and animals are victims of the scorching sun and the myriad challenges that come with it. The situation is no different for the gentle giants at our Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) […]

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5 Endearing Friendships at Wildlife SOS!

Who is a friend? A friend is indeed a blessing in disguise! Having a friend is important for several reasons. You laugh more, you heal better, and you grow together. Having the company of friends feels like a breath of fresh air one needs time and again.  Maya and Phoolkhali, the two best friends at ECCC, share a special bond with a few[…]

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How Socialisation Heals Elephants

It is a well-known fact that wild elephants reside in female-led herds, typically composed of related individuals, such as mothers and their offspring. Female calves remain with the herd, while male calves leave it between the age of 7 and 12 to establish their own territories. Once they depart, young males may either form a small, temporary herd […]

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Importance Of Tusk Maintenance In Elephants

Dental health isn't just a concern for humans; it plays a crucial role in the well-being of all rehabilitated animals. From brushing and flossing to prevent cavities, to addressing bacterial films on teeth, proper oral care is essential. Beyond dental implications, good oral health positively influences overall welfare as well, as bacteria[…]

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8 Fascinating Facts About An Elephant’s Trunk!

Elephants, the majestic giants of the animal kingdom, possess a remarkable feature that sets them apart – their extraordinary trunk! This incredible appendage, composed of around 150,000 muscle units, ranks them as one of the most sensitive organs found in any mammal. Let us delve into the fascinating world of elephant trunks, exploring their[…]

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Wild Highlights Of The Year – 2023!

The year 2023 brought multiple occasions, events and highlights at Wildlife SOS which left a mark on everyone’s hearts. From rescues of wild animals from extreme situations to the introduction of new animals at our centres, we saw it all! Here’s a glimpse of some of our biggest achievements throughout the year.  1. Empowering[…]

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Volunteer For The Voiceless!

A wise person once said, “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” We, at Wildlife SOS, highly believe in this. The ones who choose to volunteer for a purpose, give all of their time to it with the sheer determination of helping those in need.  Volunteering refers to an individual or a group of people[…]

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Staff Profile Of The Month: Puja Deb

Meet dynamic and effervescent Puja Deb, the Team Lead of Resource Mobilisation and Events at Wildlife SOS. Puja fervently carries out significant responsibilities of her role, tackling every extraordinary challenge with what seems like a breeze. An embodiment of optimism, Puja actively hosts conservation events and awareness sessions across[…]

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Children’s Day 2023: 25 Years of Kalandar Education

For Kalandar children, the wide-eyed curiosity with which they turn each page of their school textbooks has a lot to do with the opportunities that their ancestors lacked. As their families shed the past practice of ‘dancing’ bears, these children can now dream of embracing a bright future.  Wildlife SOS’ Kalandar community[…]

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Spooky Season Takes Over Wildlife SOS!

It’s that time of the year when the air gets chilly, and an eerie feeling sets over the Wildlife SOS centres. Why, you ask? Because every Halloween, our teams ensure that the resident animals take part in the thrilling festival as well! As an annual tradition, the staff come together to create different Halloween enrichments for the animals[…]

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The Daily Routine Of Elephants At Wildlife SOS!

Nestled within the beautiful lands of Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) and Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC) in Uttar Pradesh are the majestic animals that roam in their vast fields. Meet the gentle giants, whose daily routines are carefully designed with love and care to ensure their physical and mental well-being. Having been rescued[…]

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The Emotional Intelligence of Different Animals

Do animals have emotions? The question has riddled many minds over the centuries. Art, literature, and cinema have often depicted various animals with an ability to demonstrate emotions just the way humans do. This is largely due to our tendency to anthropomorphise animals, but interestingly, research has shown that animals actually do have a[…]

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Rescues From The Helpline – July 2023

During the month of July, India experienced a combination of scorching heat and substantial rainfall, particularly in the northern regions. With major floods affecting various parts of the country, it comes as no surprise that Wildlife SOS’ 24x7 Rapid Response Units found themselves drenched in numerous animal rescue calls. Delhi[…]

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The Healing Journey Of Elephants Rescued From Distress

Elephants rescued by Wildlife SOS have often endured a life marked by mistreatment, which leaves them emotionally and physically weak to express their natural behaviours. These experiences can lead to physical harm, trauma, fear, and even aggressive tendencies. Years of abuse leave lasting scars upon these elephants who often require long-term[…]

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Behavioural Trauma In Rescued Animals

What is trauma? Conveying a deeply disturbing or emotionally damaging experience with long-lasting psychological impact, trauma is regarded as a primary factor behind mental health issues. The word has been used as an anthropocentric concept for time immemorial. However, did you know that trauma can be experienced by different animals as[…]

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Animal Creativity On Display At Wildlife SOS!

Animals are ingenious. If they weren’t, surviving in the wild would have been impossible for them. And we are here to talk about their smarts. The animal kingdom is overflowing with creativity, and sitting right at the top of the pyramid are Homo sapiens. Humans have creatively shaped, moulded and terraformed the Earth’s surface like no[…]

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Trunk Tales: Calm And Curious Zara!

Separated from her mother at a tender age to be forced into harsh servitude for the next two decades — such was the life of Zara, till a glimmer of hope finally shone on her path. Zara is one of the youngest elephants at the Elephant Hospital Campus, and her calm, curious and resilient nature fill us with wonder. While her life has seen a[…]

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Exploring The Exquisite Diet Of Asian Elephants In The Wild

In the lush landscapes of India that many Asian elephants call home, a captivating tale of gastronomic delight unfolds. These majestic animals, with their massive bodies and gentle demeanour, have appetites as grand as their presence. India's forests provide a symphony of tastes to these elephants, from the succulent grasses that tickle their[…]

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Treatment Camp For Injured Birds During Makar Sankranti

In the month of January, Wildlife SOS collaborated with Eco Rescuers Foundation to host and fund a free Bird Treatment Camp in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. The four-day camp was set up on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a festival where bird casualties are at their highest due to rampant kite-flying. Through the camp, we were able to successfully[…]

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Haven For The Hidden: Where To Spot Wildlife In And Around Delhi

If you are living in an urban environment and planning to spend some time in nature, look around closely and you will find jungles within the city. Of course, most cities including the country’s capital are known better as concrete jungles, but you may be surprised to know that Delhi harbours some really old forests. These green spaces are now[…]

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The Basics Of Taxonomy

There are plenty of animals that inhabit this earth, and to place them under different and specific categories in order to study and understand them, is certainly not an easy task. This is where taxonomy comes in. Taxonomy is the study of the scientific classification of living organisms. One of the first to popularise this system was Aristotle,[…]

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Wildlife SOS Busts Illegal Trade Of Live Animals And Body Parts In Gujarat

From mammals and reptiles to birds, fish and corals — about 6,000 species of animals have been seized from illegal trade globally between 1999 and 2018. In India, most of the seized items that have been procured from animals include mongoose hair, snake skins, rhinoceros horn, tiger and leopard claws, bones, skins, whiskers, elephant tusks,[…]

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Exploring The Plight Of Animals On World Freedom Day

The Cambridge dictionary defines the word ‘freedom’ as “the condition or right of being able or allowed to do, say, think, etc. whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.” In this definition, the emphasis on ‘you’, as a human being, is a clear indication. However, who is to speak of this freedom for animals such as[…]

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The Ongoing Support To Kalandar Community With Education, Livelihood and Shelter

Wildlife conservation has long struggled to include indigenous people within its discourse. Intentionally or unintentionally, indigenous communities have been marginalised from the praxis of conservation, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and discrimination. At Wildlife SOS, we believe that our conservation efforts are most successful when both[…]

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ECCC Plays Host To Miss Universe Great Britain 2022

As the elephants at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura were preparing for a regular day, they were oblivious to the fact that some special visitors, who had been eagerly waiting to meet them, were on their way! Among them was Miss Universe Great Britain 2022 Noky Simbani, who undertook a conservation[…]

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ACF Officer Trainees’ Field Visit To ABRF

Recently, a group of Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF) officer trainees from the Central Academy for State Forest Service, Coimbatore visited the Wildlife SOS Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF). A total of 43 officer trainees came from six different states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. All […]

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Elephant Of The Month, Ella – The Eldest Pachyderm At Wildlife SOS

Seven decades is a long time. When an elephant is taken away from its natural habitat, made to walk on unnatural surfaces and beaten into submission to beg for alms at the hands of a negligent owner, all of it is bound to leave a huge psychological impact. Seventy years (nearly a lifetime) of intense walking immensely harmed her footpads, leaving […]

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A Tail of Torture: Common Tail Injuries In Rescued Elephants

Elephants under the care of Wildlife SOS suffer from trauma and wounds due to their tragic past of cruelty and abhorrent living conditions. Long periods of negligence, limited space for movement, little or no veterinary care and malnutrition lead to bodily harm. Elephants are found with various physical injuries such as infected wounds,[…]

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Desert Animals Rescued By Wildlife SOS!

While deserts are often misunderstood as lifeless habitats, these landscapes serve as a refuge for wildlife. A desert ecosystem has a lot to give to its inhabitants, and in return, the inhabitants safeguard their home. This might shock you, but deserts are the world’s largest terrestrial biome, covering nearly 20% (⅕th) of the Earth’s land[…]

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Livelihood, Marriage & Roofing Support For 11 Kalandar Families!

Working with local communities is an integral aspect of wildlife conservation, and Wildlife SOS takes this seriously. Since 2002, Wildlife SOS has helped over 3,000 Kalandars– a community that once tamed Sloth Bears for a living. The Wildlife SOS Kalandar Rehabilitation Programme supports the community by providing alternative livelihoods for[…]

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Mahak Shines Bright

Mahak, a 13-year-old Kalandar girl from Haryana, faced  formidable challenges in her effort to gain education. With a little help from the Wildlife SOS Education Program, Mahak is now receiving an education, and has recently received the first rank in her school examinations. Lack of access to education continues to be one of the biggest[…]

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Plight of their Sight: Ocular Disorders in Captive Elephants

Eyes are windows to the world. For numerous captive Asian elephants, these windows are shattered, leaving them wholly dependent on humans for lifelong care. Over the years, as Wildlife SOS has and continues to rescue injured, crippled, or geriatric elephants from various stressful situations, the most common problem plaguing captive elephants[…]

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Cool Measures On Hot Days For Our Elephants And Bears

Mercury levels are hitting records of up to 49°C in the hotter parts of the country, which is basically the Summer saying, “Look! I am here.” Since the summer season can be difficult in India due to being located in the tropics, the dedicated team at Wildlife SOS ensures that a summer care plan is implemented to help our elephants and bears […]

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Rescues From The Helpline – March 2022

Navigating life in an urban setting is no easy feat, especially for wild animals who were erstwhile residents of virgin forests and dense wilderness. However, as more animals are pushed to the fringes of human settlements, they have been forced to begrudgingly adapt to our noisy concrete jungles. Yet, there may be various perils faced by these[…]

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An Ode To Our Unsung (S)heroes: Kalandar Women

 The fate of women belonging to the Kalandar community, a nomadic group that tamed sloth bears for a living, was once deeply intertwined with the fate of sloth bears. The same Kalandar tradition that bestowed the community's men with the responsibility of taming sloth bears also demanded that women be married off at a young age and confined[…]

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Giants Enslaved: The Decline Of Asian Elephants

Elephants have always been seen across various cultures as a symbol of strength and wisdom. The motif of the Asian elephant has been prevalent in mythology since time immemorial, with the giants featuring in art, poetry, steatite seals, and other items found in archaeological excavations. Despite being a fascinating species and a cultural[…]

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Love (or something like it) In The Jungle

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,[…]

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Join Hands To Become Impact Partners of Wildlife SOS!

Wildlife SOS has always been grateful for the dedicated support that it has garnered over the years from people across the world. Our team has been actively working towards the welfare of wild animals and human communities in need. We have rescued numerous wild animals and over 300 animals are in long term care at our rescue facilities all[…]

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“How Do I Look Now?” Asks India

India, a diverse country with 19,500 dialects being spoken as mother tongues, and home to 28 states and 8 union territories….. Wait. That is always how an essay about India starts. Instead, let us take a deeper dive this time and view the Indian landscape from a completely new perspective. According to estimates of paleontologists and[…]

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What Is A Begging Elephant?

You might be wondering where the question mark is in that query. But for us at Wildlife SOS, it is not a question but a reality which we have been dealing with for a long time, and still do. So we will try to answer what a begging elephant is as best as we can. These elephants are emaciated and malnourished, and made to walk on the streets of[…]

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Founders’ Trip Itinerary 2023

January 16-25, 2023 India is a study in contrasts; a historical backdrop for a modern-day narrative, a traditional outlook co-existing with fresh, global lifestyles, an ensemble of ethnic disparities creating a cohesive, cultural identity. India is a mélange of colorful, exuberant scenes, of tangible, delectable cuisine, a multitude of[…]

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Communities On The Frontline Of Conservation

Community-based conservation (CBC) is a method without which most of the things in the world of conservation cannot be achieved. From the hilly villages of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the western Himalayan landscape, to the forest fringe villages in the mangrove landscape of the Sundarbans in West Bengal, wherever you go, no conservation[…]

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Wildlife-Ring Busted! Musk Deer Parts, Lizard Genitals Found

After a stealthy and perilous operation, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Team, working jointly with the GSPCA uncovered some bone-chilling details about the trade of protected species. The team tracked the movement of a wildlife-ring and discovered two locations in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, which were storing wild species and body parts for[…]

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Evolution of Elephants

The largest existing land mammal on the planet, Elephants, have a lasting effect on each individual who sets their eyes on them. Their evolution over the years is just as remarkable. Today, there are three surviving elephants species; the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and Asian[…]

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Wildlife SOS At The National Conference For Zoo Directors and Veterinarians!

On 10th and 11th October, the  Sardar Patel Zoological Park at Kevada, Gujarat, was taken over by trailblazers in the world of animal welfare. Directors, veterinarians, animal keepers, forest officers, etc gathered from all over the nation to attend the annual National Conference for Zoo Directors and Veterinarians. The two-day conference[…]

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Celebrating Elephant Appreciation Day at Wildlife SOS!

In 1996, Wayne Hepburn, owner of Mission Media, received an elephant paperweight as a gift from his daughter. This triggered Wayne’s fascination with the majestic pachyderms, and he went on to create Elephant Appreciation Day, celebrated on the 22nd of September every year. Despite its rather facile origin, Elephant Appreciation Day evolved[…]

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Jasmine’s Story – Why Elephants Do Not Belong In Cities?

A few years ago, when our vehicles would screech to a halt at the traffic signal, it would not be unusual to find an elephant right in the middle of the traffic jam in Delhi. The man perched atop the elephant’s back would poke a bullhook behind the elephant’s ear, forcing it to move. The exhausted elephant would slowly make its way through[…]

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Caring For Young Elephants

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[…]

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Socialisation Of Rescued Elephants At Wildlife SOS

Elephant herds are the living examples of the strongest familial relationships in the wild, each member of the herd has a role to play to ensure that the herd is safe. For an animal that thrives in the company of similar majestic beings, a life in captivity is nothing short of torture and injustice. This is precisely why, when rescued elephants,[…]

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Wildlife SOS Provides COVID19 Relief Kits To Kalandars

The Wildlife SOS Kalandar Rehabilitation Programme was introduced after the safe rescue and rehabilitation of 628 sloth bears from the dancing bear practice. It was pertinent to understand that until an alternative source of employment could not be provided to the community involved in this practice, they would resort to the earlier methods of[…]

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Zara Celebrates First Rescueversary With Wildlife SOS

At Wildlife SOS, first rescue anniversaries celebrate the journey of freedom that our elephants embark upon. Each rescued elephant brings with them their own share of burdened memories, lack of rest and their weak bodies riddled with scars and wounds. An elephant’s memory is applauded for their ability to never forget but when such memories of[…]

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“Why haven’t you removed the bell around that elephant’s neck?”

One of the most common questions we get after saving an elephant is, “why does she still have a bell on?” It’s an emotional subject because after all, it’s a symbol of their brutal life laboring on the streets. Despite their size and weight, elephants can walk very quietly. When they’re in an unnatural setting like a busy city,[…]

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Celebrating Wildlife SOS’ Team Of Veterinarians On World Veterinary Day

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 […]

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All You Need To Know About The Bird Flu

The new year has been welcomed with high hopes and the unkindly return of the Bird Flu also called the Avian Influenza or H5N1. The origin of bird flu can be traced to the late 1990s when the outbreak was first noticed in geese in China. Bird flu was labeled “highly contagious” by scientists and rapidly spread among birds and poultry. The[…]

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Elephant Of The Month – Zara

Awake and alert at the crack of dawn, Zara stands at the corner of her free-ranging field and lightly rumbles out to her neighbouring pachyderms. This activity has become a part of her daily routine and she thoroughly enjoys doing it every day without fail, often receiving responses from Walnut and Peanut! Her petite structure and small ears make […]

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Healing Wounds With Compassion and Comfort at Wildlife SOS

The heartbreaking sight of a wounded elephant walking in pain along busy highways and narrow streets is the most prominent sign of abuse and ignorance that can be represented. Many people firmly believe that the elephant, whose body hosts chronic, infected wounds and abscesses, is actually well taken care of but the reality is far from what is[…]

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Erika – Elephant of the Month!

62-year-old Erika’s history is shrouded in pain, agony and utter neglect – however, that hasn’t subdued her indomitable spirit in any way. If anything, this dauntless courage shines through every day that we’ve known her. From the exhausted, weak, and utterly malnourished elephant that roamed the dusty streets of Haryana to the tall,[…]

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Rescued Elephants Welcome Winters at Wildlife SOS

As the bright sunshine pierces through the dense fog and mist of the morning, our elephants can be seen pausing amidst their walks to bask under the sun at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. The month of December, with its unpredictable and delightful rainfall, prepared us all for a chilly winter that was lurking around the[…]

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Will Other Indian Cities Follow Delhi’s Bold Leadership?

One year ago, a begging elephant we call Jasmine, was loaded onto a truck in Delhi and transferred to a forested elephant rescue center in the state of Haryana. Although Jasmine leaving the city was a turning point in her life, it was also a historical day for Delhi.  Prior to the exodus of Jasmine, elephants had been kept in Delhi for[…]

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Building a Future for India’s Elephants

We are running out of space to care for new elephant rescues With the grand opening of India’s only dedicated elephant hospital in 2018, Wildlife SOS has become a beacon of hope for India’s elephants. As the number of pachyderm patients continues to grow at the Elephant Hospital, Wildlife SOS is planning for a future providing research and […]

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Spooktacular Halloween at Wildlife SOS!

The end of October brings chills down our spines and we have more than the sudden dip in the temperatures to blame! The spooky season and the Halloween celebrations have become an annual fall tradition, not only for our rescued elephants, sloth bears and leopards but even our animal care staff. They got into the Halloween spirit by carving out[…]

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Caring for Blind Elephants at Wildlife SOS

With Arya’s arrival at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, there are now a total of 6 rescued blind elephants under our care. These elephants have endured brutality and pain, which caused irreversible damage to their body and mind. Severe malnutrition coupled with lack of timely medical treatment for eye injuries that were caused by repeated […]

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Lilly Completes 6 Years at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre!

With her larger than life personality and enthusiastic trumpeting, it is very easy to distinguish Lilly from the rest of the herd which resides at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, situated in Haryana. Watching Lilly enjoy her peaceful walks around the densely forested area with her companions or mischievously sneaking out treats from her[…]

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Delhi’s Last Elephant, Jasmine, Celebrates One Year of Freedom!

It would be a common sight for people residing in Delhi to witness an elephant making her way through the narrow streets and heavy traffic. With blaring horns causing immense psychological distress to her, one year ago, nobody would have believed that Jasmine would ever be liberated from this abusive life. Jasmine’s day would include endless[…]

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Awards

2004 The Elisabeth Lewyt Award for Disaster Management & Planning: Elisabeth Lewyt was a pioneer in the field of animal protection and understood the importance of involving private sector to take the message forward. Our co-founders have been bestowed with this award, twice, for their exemplary contribution in the field of conservation, in[…]

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Our “Spirited” Elephant Of The Month: Jasmine!

Almost a year ago, an elephant navigating through the congested city roads of the National Capital of Delhi would have been a common sight for the residents and the tourists, alike. Some would feel pity for this elephant while, some would fight with her owner for putting her through this misery. A casual glance at Jasmine, one of Delhi’s last[…]

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Zara

Year of arrival: 2020 Age at the time of arrival: about 21 years-old Sex: Female Personality traits: Calm and cooperative Recognisable features: A hole in her right ear Facility: Treatment Unit at ECCC Favourite food: Watermelons Closest to: Arya Favourite activities: Enjoys splashing around the water from her bucket of[…]

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Nightly Prowl takes a Grave Turn as Leopard falls into a Well in Uttar Pradesh!

The prized possessions of the wild find themselves in serious incidents and escaping death at every turn, whether it is being involved in a road accident with speeding vehicles running over them or falling into uncovered wells which may be dry or, on unlucky days, filled up to the brink with water. In India, leopards often find themselves as[…]

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Keeper of the Month: Babu Lal!

Our elephants have the chance at life once again, due to the care and compassion of our elephant keepers, who work day-in and day-out so that our elephants are comfortable and content. Of one such large-hearted man is Babu lal, Asha and Suzy’s keeper, who hails from a village near Palwal, Haryana and has dedicated their entire life into taking[…]

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The Seven-year Long Tale of Companionship and Courage: Erika & Ella!

Their fates were stitched together when they were spotted in different districts of Haryana, begging for survival, tirelessly, day in and day out. With battered bodies and broken spirits, they had no respite from walking around unnatural surfaces and lifting their trunks for imparting “blessings” to people at the piercing poke of a bull-hook[…]

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Wildlife SOS Transit Facility

The Wildlife SOS Transit Facility was established in 1999 in collaboration with the Haryana Forest Department, Government of Haryana, with the primary objective of assisting the state forest department with rescue, medical treatment and release of injured, orphaned wild animals referred to Wildlife SOS by the forest department. Spiralling land[…]

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Elephant Rehabilitation Centre

The Ch. Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC) is situated at Ban Santour, Yamunanagar, Haryana and is a project undertaken by the Haryana Forest Department, Government of Haryana in collaboration with Wildlife SOS. The objective of the centre is to rehabilitate and provide a high degree of veterinary care, treatment, and enrichment[…]

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The Grand, Old Dame of the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre: Ella!

Entering through the thick and dense forested area of Wildlife SOS Ch. Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, Ban Santour, Yamunanagar in Haryana, a beautiful, long lashed Ella can be spotted taking measured, slow steps on the soft ground, occasionally pausing for a break to spot a fresh fruit on the tree! As her keeper waits for her to[…]

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Jasmine’s rescue brings an end to Delhi’s love affair with captive elephants

In a city that is always flooded with people, it is hard to imagine that there would be enough space for a large mammal such as an Asian elephant. Yet Delhi has had a special history with captive elephants that were used for myriad cultural activities within the city. Today, with the rescue of the last captive elephant of Delhi Jasmine (formerly[…]

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Understanding the Distribution of Three Species of Bears in Northeast India

Since 2012 Wildlife SOS has been working with bear biologists from the IUCN Bear Specialist Group and Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University to determine the distribution of bears in northeast India and Bhutan. Three species of bear occur in northeast India including the Asiatic black bear, the sloth bear and the sun bear. Particular attention[…]

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A new life for Kalpana!

The poaching of wild elephants for captivity is not only unimaginably cruel to the individual elephants poached, it severely threatens the future of elephants in India. Following the capture from their natural habitat, abuse and suffering become an everyday life occurrence for these captive elephants. Kalpana’s story is representative of the[…]

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Saying Goodbye To Our Beloved Akbar Bear!

The month of July started on a very sad note for the Wildlife SOS family, as we suffered an unexpected loss in the form of our beloved bear Akbar.  A little over 26 years of age, he lost his long fight against severe pulmonary Tuberculosis and liver dysfunction. Often referred to as “The Angry Old Man” by our bear keepers, Akbar’s[…]

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