Search for: emma

It is said that individuals sharing the same traumatic experiences often bond very well. For our rescued elephant Emma, introduction to her now two best friends Maya and Phoolkali, has proven this point. Emma was rescued and brought in at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC), Mathura, in 2021. Being a shy pachyderm, she was given a[…]

One whole year has passed in the blink of an eye, and here we are, coming together to celebrate Emma’s first rescue anniversary. But it was all a very different story a year ago. When we found Emma, this 40-yea-old elephant had spent most of her life walking along busy streets from state to state, begging for alms, giving tourist rides and[…]

For a newly rescued elephant, the initial months of adapting to a new environment are a difficult transition period. At Wildlife SOS, we prioritise the comfort and care of these elephants by allowing them the time they need to grow accustomed to this new life. Emma took her time to grow accustomed to the care and treatment we provided her[…]

Emma loves resting under the shade of her enclosure and comfortably snoozes at any time of the day. Almost 3 months into her healing journey, Emma has now adjusted to life at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center and we are slowly seeing more of her inquisitive personality. After giving Emma the time she needed for adjustment, […]

Following a whirlwind rescue operation to get Emma to safety at the start of the new year, we are  thrilled to celebrate her first month of freedom! Emma was forced to walk from one village to another by her owner. [Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak] Having embarked on a forty-hour long journey to reach the Elephant Hospital, our[…]

Year of arrival: 2021 Age at the time of arrival: 40 years-old Sex: Female Personality traits: Curious and calm  Recognisable features: Slight depigmentation on the borders of the ears, hole in the right ear due to piercing, lifts her forelimbs due to pain and discomfort, light-coloured eyes with specs of green Present[…]

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 […]

Consider this: An employee reaches their workplace on time every day, completes each task assigned, and meets all targets. For such excellent performance, the staff member is rewarded with a gift card at the end of every month, which motivates the employee to repeat this behaviour in the upcoming months as well. This practice of encouraging an[…]

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[…]

Have you been following the action at the 2024 Paris Olympics? Well, we imagined what our own version would look like with our resident elephants as the athletes. Presenting the 2024 El-ympics! Wildlife SOS Elephants Go for Gold(en) Watermelons Our resident pachyderms joined in on the fun and celebrated with the rest of the world to bring[…]

Each year the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, Australia awards the Kindness Gold Medal to individuals who exemplify unwavering dedication in initiatives concerning children, animals, the environment, the terminally ill, and aspiring youth. Established by philanthropist Philip Wollen, the trust focuses on projects that promote kindness and[…]

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[…]

The 11th annual online auction to benefit elephants featured one-of-a-kind items from our generous donors all over the world. The 13-day event began on April 22, 2024 with nearly 1000 unique items to bid on. With the help of our faithful supporters we raised $180K of our $200K goal. However, we have some exciting news - a generous anonymous donor […]

Save The Elephant Day is celebrated every year on April 16th with a mission to raise awareness about the different kinds of dangers elephants face, and is a way to encourage people to conserve these majestic, gentle giants. On this occasion this year, Wildlife SOS was graced by Adah Sharma, a critically acclaimed Indian actress. Her love for[…]

Have you ever wished to visit the Wildlife SOS centres where animals under our dedicated care have been residing since their rescue? Well, the Founders’ Trip by Wildlife SOS opens the door to an exclusive opportunity! Not only do you witness these animals up close and volunteer, you can do so along with Wildlife SOS Co-founders, Kartick[…]

We human beings are highly emotional creatures. We can explain what we feel through our facial expressions, body language and verbal communication.  But have you ever wondered if animals too have feelings or emotions? If they do, do they show it? And if so, how? Since we cannot go up to them to ask them, the question of animals having[…]

We wholeheartedly appreciate the support we receive from people all over the world who volunteer and raise funds for the rescued and rehabilitated animals of Wildlife SOS. Animals under our care have endured severe suffering and traumatic experiences in cruel captivity, until Wildlife SOS provided them with a second chance at life. We are deeply[…]

Maya’s past remains to be a continuous reminder of the daily torture many innocent pachyderms have faced over numerous years. Despite the brutality shown to her, Maya has shown tremendous resilience ever since she arrived at Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) nearly 14 years ago. She had been a circus elephant, forced to stand on one[…]

Inaugurated in November 2018, the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC) is the first medical facility of its kind in India and serves as a model for improving elephant care worldwide. This facility marked the beginning of providing long-term medical care to rescued elephants with critical health conditions. In the month following its[…]

The most identifiable features of an elephant are their trunks and the size of their body. There are three extant species of elephants – African savanna, African forest and Asian elephants. Despite being the same animal, these species are different from one another, due to which they are often referred to as cousins. It is a known fact that[…]

'Phool' in Hindi refers to 'flower', while 'kali' means 'bud'. Phoolkali — the apple of her caregiver’s eye and a trusty matriarch for Maya and Emma — was indeed a flowering bud that was unfairly plucked off her family tree. Rather than being allowed to bloom in the pleasant surroundings of lush forests, Phoolkali grew up on dusty roads[…]

Cinema has the remarkable ability to transport us to distant worlds, to explore the depths of human emotions, and to shed light on the most pressing issues of our time. Films have always been a great medium to inspire or serve as a tool for societal change. They can also make the audience experience different kinds of emotions, expose them to new […]

There are many differences one can note while talking about wild animals and domesticated animals. The behaviour of wild animals is much more difficult to observe in their natural habitat, since it requires time, patience, knowledge, and sometimes, sheer luck. However, there are many researchers who spend their lives trying to find out the exact[…]

People often talk about the bond two people share after going through a similar life-changing experience. For two resident elephants at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC), this is a fact of life they know too well. In this case however, their shared experience happens to be a traumatic one.  Maya, our approximately[…]

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[…]

The sight of Nina, a geriatric female elephant who is over 60 years old, speaks to us, telling us stories that we wish were untrue. Currently under the care of Wildlife SOS at its Elephant Hospital Campus in Uttar Pradesh, Nina's life was that of a begging elephant – a harrowing one that spanned 60 long years. Like Nina, the fate of many[…]

The Rescue  In Azizpur village in Kosi Kalan, Mathura district, the humdrum of daily life is rarely ever disturbed. Yet, on 28th December 2022, an unexpected visitor with a bad reputation set the tranquil village in disarray. An Indian striped hyena was spotted prowling an agriculture field. Rumours about the hyena’s vicious nature[…]

This year, the United Nations (UN) made a staggering announcement that the global human population would reach eight billion on 15 November 2022. And it sure did! This mammoth population relies on state-of-the-art facilities and rampant usage of natural resources. Due to anthropogenic activities, the planet has undergone surface changes of up to[…]

As the first rays of sunlight escape the veil of wispy clouds, the elephant caregivers arrive at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura. They walk towards the various elephant enclosures, glance over the jumbos in deep sleep and make sure that they are all set to start the day. Some of the jumbos, like young Walnut, are[…]

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[…]

This is the story of two different kinds of elephants roaming two separate continents. Today, there are three surviving elephant species — the African Savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African Forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). If we trace their origin, the prehistoric ancestors of these[…]

Every year August 12 is heralded as World Elephant Day wherein the world comes together to raise awareness about the declining population of elephants. For esteemed Indian actress, Jennifer Winget, this was the perfect opportunity to contribute to the fight for India’s elephants by spending three days volunteering with Wildlife SOS. What ensued […]

As Mother's Day comes along, we would like to take the time to highlight some of the most loving and daring mothers found in India's jungles. These moms are ready to risk it all; be it carrying their young ones on their backs, nursing them despite the harshest conditions, or even fighting tooth and nail for their offspring's safety! Nature is[…]

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 […]

In 1903 Thomas Edison made a 60-second film aptly titled "Electrocuting an Elephant." The black and white film showcased the brutal electrocution of Topsy,  an Asian elephant that could no longer be managed by her owners. Her entire life, Topsy was a circus elephant used as a mere prop for the entertainment of humans. Even in her death, Topsy[…]

The word Phajaan means breaking of the spirit. It is a brutal process wherein a captive elephant is isolated and beaten -using pain and fear as the driving force until every trace of its wild spirit leaves its body, and it begins obeying its captor. Phajaan is sadly the only way an animal as large as an elephant can be tamed and is the brutal[…]

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,[…]

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[…]

Alone, abandoned, and surrounded by impossibly tall stalks of sugarcane - the possibility of survival seemed bleak for a young leopard cub. The cub sat quivering in fear as the slashes of sugarcane stalks being cut down echoed all around and the roar of tractors carrying away the harvests echoed all around like the roars of some unknown creature. […]

Like a tradition that binds a family together, Christmas has become an integral part of Wildlife SOS. As December commences, every Wildlife SOS Rescue center reverberates with rumblings of ideas to make Christmas a joyous and memorable occasion for our resident animals. This year our care teams in Maharashtra, Agra, Bangalore, and Mathura left no […]

2021 has been a difficult year with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. While it continued to affect all aspects of our lives, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response teams remained committed to the cause and responded to myriad wildlife rescue calls. To pay homage to our dedicated and hard-working teams, we are highlighting some of the most[…]

Throughout the year Wildlife SOS has been fortunate to receive support from nearly 200 supporters who have started their very own fundraising campaigns for wildlife using Facebook’s fundraising tools. We’re incredibly grateful to each and every person who dedicated their birthday, wedding, holidays, or special occasion to wildlife by[…]

Much like 2020, the uncertainty of COVID lockdowns and restrictions posed significant obstacles to overcome for our rescue teams. But these added challenges didn't slow our efforts to help as many captive elephants as we could, bringing four new members to the Wildlife SOS family. Please welcome Emma, Nina, Pari and Ginger! SUPPORT THE[…]

If we ask ourselves what is conservation, we might be in a dilemma as to whether it means preservation or careful use of natural resources. When it comes to wildlife conservation it might just be best to preserve the home of wildlife, i.e the forests itself. According to a report, populations of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians have[…]

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[…]

In the last 6 months, Wildlife SOS has worked tirelessly, round-the-clock to attend to distress calls for animals. The country plunged into another dark wave of COVID19, which lead to state-wise lockdowns. However, our rescue teams enlisted as "essential services" selflessly worked towards ensuring that the emergency calls are attended to,[…]

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,[…]

In her pioneering speech, We Should All Be Feminists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “We raise girls to see each other as competitors.” Commenting on female bonds, Adieche stated that society teaches girls to constantly compete, losing out on the ability to form tight-knit friendships with one another.  As society progresses,[…]

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[…]

The elephant proudly holds the title of the largest living land mammal on the planet, which means that the weight of this responsibility rests on their strong limbs. Their body weight is divided on their forelimbs and hindlimbs in a 60 to 40 ratio. At first glance of their large feet, the wide nails and thick skin hide the intricate skeletal[…]

June 13, 2023 Throughout our Volunteering Program the health and well-being of you and our staff is paramount. Please be assured that we will follow current government recommended guidelines at all times, and we ask that you also do the same. Keeping our staff healthy ensures they can care for the many animals at our rescue centres. If you are […]

Hailing from the rich cultural heritage town of Puttukottai in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Ilayaraja Selvaraj has been an integral part of the Wildlife SOS family for the past 18 years. He is presently the Deputy Director of Veterinary Operations and Research at Wildlife SOS. Dr. Ilayaraja’s unmatched zeal and his larger-than-life attitude make him one of[…]

The past one month has been a whirlwind of a journey at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital as we settled Emma into her new home and watched Jai make remarkable progress under our care. The year 2020 was indeed a challenging one, with the pandemic hitting hard and abruptly halting life as we know it. Despite these hurdles, the Wildlife SOS team[…]

The 7th Annual “Bid To Be Wild” Online Auction ran from May 11 – May 22, 2020. In twelve days, you helped us raise over $100K for wildlife! We had hundreds of handmade gifts and artwork available for purchase which was kindly donated by generous supporters all across the globe. Wildlife SOS is overwhelmed with gratitude to all the[…]

Year of rescue: 2010 Age at the time of rescue: 35 years old Sex: Female Personality traits: Playful  Recognisable features: One of the tallest elephants under our care; lower set eyes  Present health condition: Healthy; frequent foot baths Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre Favourite food: […]

Nestled in the river basin of the mighty Mahanadi river, the district of Mahasamund has found itself faced with a unique and complicated dilemma. The region had not seen any wild elephants till a few years ago, when not one, but nineteen elephants wandered into the area and decided to make it their home. The elephants were faced with unfamiliar[…]