The term ‘rescueversary’ beautifully blends the words ‘rescue’ and ‘anniversary’. At Wildlife SOS, this marks the day a bear, an elephant or a leopard stepped into the safe environments of our rescue centres after being saved from torment. This occasion is not just a date highlighted in our calendar, it’s a celebration of freedom, the resilience of the animal, and a reminder of how care, patience and affection are indeed the strongest pillars in the process of healing.
Elephants used for begging, cultural processions or in the circus often endure neglect in captivity, which severely impacts their physical and mental well-being. Sloth bears, too, have been found subjected to cruelty as ‘dancing’ bears or as victims of snare traps in the wild. Our teams have also addressed conflict situations involving these animals as well as leopards, Asiatic black bears and Himalayan brown bears. From the moment these rescued animals arrive at Wildlife SOS’s rehabilitation centres, they are surrounded by compassionate care, medical aid, a nourishing diet, and a habitat that closely mirrors the wild. While our team works towards the health and happiness of all our rescued animals every day, it is on rescueversaries that we celebrate to make that extra effort to share the love we have in our hearts with them.
Rescueversaries are momentous occasions that are carefully planned to add a joyful surprise for the celebrated animal under our care. And the best way to do so is by creating something yummy for their tummy! Caregivers come together to make cakes or extravagant fruit feasts as gifts for bears and elephants that are not only nutritious, but are also a sure way to delight the eager receiver on this special day!
For the majestic elephants under our care, rescueversary cakes are as grand and visually appealing as they are. They are made to carefully balance their taste buds and their dietary requirements. The team follows a recipe where a delicious porridge made from millets is layered with seasonal fruits like bananas, papayas and watermelons that are neatly chopped and placed right on top. Caregivers go one step further to creatively cut out the fruits in the shape of the number of years they have cared for the elephant, and letters to highlight the elephant’s name. The icing to this colourful plate is given by the garnishing of dry fruits and pumpkin seeds!
Cakes for elephants often include the snacks they love to munch on — sugarcane stalks or fodder! The elephant receiving such a sumptuous cake dedicates its own sweet time to devour each and every bite, and is also joined by its closest companions for this binge bash! For our team, providing elephants a wonderful platter of food is one of the best ways to honour and celebrate them.
Cakes for sloth bears are designed to engage their natural curiosity and foraging instincts. These cakes have a drier porridge as their base, and honey, grated coconuts, peanut butter or jaggery are mixed within it for a touch of sweetness the bears highly enjoy. The cakes are then decorated with fruits like apples, melons and berries and are sometimes sprinkled with nuts or seeds — all in quantities as per the bear’s liking!
For the bear under spotlight, treats on such an occasion are often hidden within logs or boxes that are scattered all over their field, encouraging the bear to go on a treasure hunt. Structures created for climbing and hanging ropes are also often coated with honey, which the bear and his companions are quick to lap up. Rescueversaries in summers also involve icy fruit popsicles that include chunks of mangoes, and these are hung from the trees as well!
Fruit feasts and cakes are customised according to what the bears and elephants love to eat the most, and are prepared in a large quantity so that it can be shared with their enclosure mates. Elephants, with their sociable nature, often enjoy fruit feast spreads together. These are usually set up lavishly on tables, which is sure to peak their curiosity from afar. Caregivers usually place these along the elephants’ retreating paths, ensuring a cheerful surprise for them as they return from taking their daily walk!
Organising a rescueversary is no small feat, but it’s also one of the most fun-filled activities that brings the entire team at the centre together. Caregivers, veterinarians, research team, education team and even the Audio-Visual (AV) crew recording the entire event hold meetings to discuss and finalise every detail, from the design of the cake to the placement of the fruit feast!
The ground team also selects the celebration site that would best suit the elephant. Elephants in their geriatric phase or those male elephants undergoing musth have their rescueversaries within their enclosures, keeping their sensitive needs in mind.
First rescueversaries and milestone celebrations of bears and elephants carry a unique significance, symbolising the remarkable progress made by the animals on their healing journey. These events also serve as ever-lasting reminders for our teams to continue following their path to conserve and protect India’s wonderful wildlife.
At its heart, every rescueversary is a celebration of life, freedom, and the unwavering bond that has formed between animals and the caregivers. It’s a testament to how Wildlife SOS teams are committed to go above and beyond to ensure that these animals, once victims of neglect or abuse, now live their lives with dignity.
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