An ideal winter day for our resident animals is when the sun’s rays manage to reach out through the mist to give them each a hug.
But on some special days of this season, familiar beings wearing the striking colour of red receive an equally warm welcome from our sloth bears, elephants and leopards!
To bring in the merry spirit of Christmas, our dedicated caregivers and veterinary staff magically transform into Santa Clauses bearing several gifts!
To include the pachyderms in jolly celebrations this year, caregivers at our Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) went ahead to prepare decorations and treats for Taj, Tara, Sanjay, and Lakshmi.
Specially crafted Christmas stockings were filled to the brim with peanuts, bananas, papayas, watermelons, and green fodder.
But these were not the only delicacies our elephants were given! Another large stocking was loaded with popcorn, and the elephants were quick to finish the crunchy munchies!
At the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF), the sloth bears were in for fun-filled festivities! Kabilan, Kanmani, Digit, Gambhir, Vidur, Mowgli, and Ron were among the sloth bears who were presented with delicious treats that were wrapped as gifts. It was a joy to watch the bears open their gifts with great enthusiasm!
The delightful treats included an assortment of popcorn, dates, and freshly chopped fruits like watermelons and papayas, which were all drizzled with honey. As a cherished and loved sweet addition, honey made sure to lure the bears to the perfect snack for a cold afternoon!
At the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) in Bangalore, the caregivers and staff put on their Santa caps, and like hard-working elves, they constructed a tall Christmas tree made out of fodder. This tree was then decorated with various fruits that our resident sloth bears Shari, Suvarna, Tulsi, Tate, Deva and Kavi quickly plucked off! But their enjoyment didn’t end there.
They were soon curiously exploring the wrapped gift boxes that were hanging in their open fields. Along with these were some bags full of treats that dangled as well. The sloth bears could only reach these by climbing up their hammocks!
At the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC) in Junnar, Maharashtra, our rescued leopards, Simba, Aditi, and Shivshree, participated in the Christmas festivities organised by their caregivers. The best treat for leopards is always meat, and so, pieces of meat were strung across Simba’s enclosure for him to find and devour! For Aditi and Shivshree, who share the same enclosure, boxes containing treats were wrapped in bright colours and were presented to the two!
These specially created enrichments were made with love to spread cheer and happiness among our resident animals! To add to the festive fervour, the Wildlife SOS staff has also decorated the enclosures of our animals with stars and other Christmas trinkets that are made out of handmade paper.
With rejoicement, the entire team of Wildlife SOS and the animals under our care wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
