Amidst the blurred border of wild forests and human lands, lies a sleepy village in Junnar, Maharashtra, where the night breeze is chilly, and the forests hum with the sounds of the cicadas and other wildlife. The sky is dark and vast when a rustle in the bushes is heard. A pair of glowing eyes, enchanting and fierce, reveals itself and then suddenly, a large, spotted body of an animal appears. What to do next? Do you know?
Leopards, Lectures, and Life Lessons
For many, this is when sheer panic sets in, but for the students of the National Service Scheme (NSS) camp in Junnar, this question came as an opportunity to learn how to react in such a situation.
-
Mr. Mahinder Dhore, Manager, Wildlife SOS MLRC, patiently explained that voiceless animals are not villains in this story of conflict, and coexistence is not only possible but also necessary. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Akash Dolas]
Over 120 young children with eager minds attended a knowledge-oriented session by Mr. Mahinder Dhore, Manager, Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre, who offered wise advice in the most effective way possible. From the months of October to December 2024, Mr. Dhore made several stops in various schools of Maharashtra, including Manjarwadi School, Alephata-Ozar Gawadewadi Narayangaon School, and Adarsh English School, to promote conservation and protection of wild animals.
-
Mr. Mahinder Dhore also conducted sessions with forest officers in Maharashtra to dispel their fear of leopards with knowledge about them. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Akash Dolas]
On December 18, 2024, 53 forest officials of Maharashtra underwent an exclusive training programme hosted at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC). Handling a leopard isn’t exactly a walk in the park—it requires skill, precision, and sensitivity. This is why our trainers at MLRC ensured that officials headed back equipped with the knowledge on how to manage these incredible big cats with expertise, care and caution. They were apprised about the safety measures needed, and were guided on how to master using the necessary equipment. After a tour of the centre, Dr. Avinash Visalkar, Veterinary Officer at MRLC, led the forest officials for a medical tour as well, where they were apprised of the medicines prescribed for leopard treatments.
-
The attendees were also given a tour of the centre where they were informed about the attentive care given to leopards rescued from conflict. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Akash Dolas] Bears, Birds, and Brilliant Minds
October at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) in Bangalore kicked off with a roar—well, more of a snort, since this took place at our sloth bear centre. October 12 is World Sloth Bear Day, and its celebration took place at BBRC in full swing with volunteers arriving from North Interest Bank.
A giant special bear cake made of millets delighted our bears, while artistic volunteers colored and wore bear masks provided by our Wildlife SOS team! [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
An educational stall in the Bannerghatta Biological Park was also set up for answering all questions, big or small. November saw another thought-provoking talk—this time by Wildlife SOS’s Senior Research Biologist Mr. Srinu Srikanta Maharana at Senior Adarsh College, Bangalore. The topic? Human-wildlife conflict. Eighty students, both undergraduate and postgraduates, walked in expecting a regular lecture, but walked out with a deep appreciation and understanding of the ways of the wild.
Wildlife SOS hosted a herbarium workshop at the Bannerghatta Zoo, inviting participants to creatively identify native and invasive plant species. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
December brought a first for Wildlife SOS — a herbarium workshop held inside Bannerghatta Zoo. This event was one for the book! It gave participants a creative way to remember which plant species are native to the location, and which are invasive. For instance, hibiscus and neem are the good plants of the wild, but lantana and parthenium are the troublemakers that threaten the existence of the rest.
Later, in January 2025, a one-of-a-kind workshop took place with Enable India volunteers at BBRC, where differently abled participants assisted caregivers in creating enrichments for rescued sloth bears at the centre. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]
The Freedom Talk in Agra
Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025, had Wildlife SOS put up an awareness stall for a forest department programme in Agra. Equipment used for wildlife rescues were placed for demonstrations. It was perhaps the most suitable day to talk about freedom and how every being in the world deserves it. Spanning from leopards to bears, our team shared various stories of rescues and the incredible work and satisfaction that goes into saving India’s wildlife.
The event opened encouraging conversations about how to avoid conflict situations when one encounters wild animals in their locality. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Atharva Panchare]
Earlier, on January 6, Mr. Baiju Raj M.V, Director of Conservation Efforts at Wildlife SOS, took to the stage to deliver an insightful talk at the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, within which resides our Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF). The audience consisted of newly appointed forest investigating officers and training officers from Uttar Pradesh. The session covered illegal wildlife trafficking, anti-poaching operations, wildlife laws, and the collaborative rescue operations conducted by Wildlife SOS and the forest department. With nearly 25 female officer attendees, this awareness session sparked meaningful dialogue.
In Agra, female forest officials were trained in wildlife laws, anti-poaching strategies, and rescue techniques to safeguard India’s biodiversity! [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Atharva Panchare]
Empowering Communities in Jammu & Kashmir
Snowscape lands of Jammu & Kashmir are home to a number of wild species, thus the chances of a wildlife encounter are becoming higher with human settlements expanding. We know that there is no conservation without conversation, and so, Wildlife SOS has been focusing on community engagement and awareness. The concept of safe rehabilitation served as the backdrop for programmes that targeted diverse groups of religious leaders, local authorities, and government officials such as Station House Officers (SHOs).
Ms. Aaliya Mir, Project Head and Education Officer for Wildlife SOS in Jammu & Kashmir, conducts educational and interactive sessions with students to build bridges between people and wildlife. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
These sessions revolved around leopard protection, with discussions on do’s and don’ts while encountering wildlife, careful waste management, and the growing necessity of peaceful coexistence with wildlife. The women of the community were empowered with various strategies for effective waste disposal to deter black bears, while children were captivated by stories of Kashmir’s unique wildlife. Every session was packed with information to inspire action. The fruiting months of June to August were highlighted as prime bear spotting season, with advice on staying safe and fostering harmony.
We empowered communities with wildlife safety tips, waste management strategies, and stories of Kashmir’s unique wildlife for peaceful coexistence. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Wildlife SOS isn’t just about saving animals; it’s about shaping a world where humans and wildlife can coexist. Wildlife SOS has been involved with several research initiatives and awareness workshops to protect wildlife and their habitats. To know more about our ongoing efforts towards wildlife conservation, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
