In the heart of India’s wildlife-rich landscapes, animals face numerous challenges, ranging from health issues to human-wildlife conflicts. Understanding the urgency to address these concerns, Wildlife SOS initiated impactful awareness workshops and health camps to safeguard the well-being of animals in the state of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Through collaborative efforts with the respective forest departments, health camps and legal workshops were conducted to provide necessary medical guidance and a holistic approach towards wildlife conservation.
Elephant Health Camp at Orang National Park, Assam
In collaboration with renowned veterinarian Padma Shri Dr. K.K. Sarma, Wildlife SOS extended immediate medical assistance to elephants in Assam by setting up an elephant outreach unit. The aim was to bridge the gap in veterinary care for elephants, the one-day health camp at Orang National Park had Wildlife SOS veterinarians working alongside Dr. K.K. Sarma and the World Wildlife Fund to conduct health check-ups for nearly 40 elephants.
The team focused on immunisation, deworming, and routine health assessments as preventive measures to mitigate any distress elephants could potentially face. Professional alliances enabled the successful examination of all elephants within a single day, laying the groundwork for future veterinary and capacity-building workshops.
Elephant Health Camp at Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
With its commitment towards elephant welfare, Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the state forest department, organised a health and treatment camp in Madhya Pradesh’s Pench Tiger Reserve. The camp provided medical aid to nearly a dozen elephants that were helping out in anti-poaching efforts and patrolling.
In addition to this, the Wildlife SOS team conducted a detailed training session for the elephant handlers, also known as mahouts. The session addressed crucial aspects of husbandry, elephant care, and health management. It also offered practical insights into specific aspects such as the need of regular foot care and toenail trimming of elephants to prevent foot abscesses and lameness. Expert advice was shared for the overall well-being and protection of elephants.
Another workshop was organised by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department that brought together experts to share insights on various aspects of wildlife preservation.
Wildlife SOS played a pivotal role in these training sessions, with Mr. Baiju Raj M.V., Senior Biologist and Director of Conservation Projects, and Dr. S. Ilayaraja, Deputy Director of Veterinary Services, offering their knowledge and understanding to the Pench Tiger Reserve’s rescue team. Dr. Ilayaraja provided valuable information on the behaviour of sloth bears and elephants in the wild, emphasizing on safe rescue and release operations with the use of lightweight carriers for transportation. Mr. Baiju Raj highlighted Wildlife SOS’ extensive work in wildlife conservation, emergency rescue hotlines, and efforts on habitat protection and restoration.
Legal Workshop in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, organised the first-ever workshop of its kind in Mathura. With an impressive turnout of over 200 participants, including officials from the forest department, judiciary, police, and other enforcement agencies, the workshop focused on the crucial aspects of investigating, preventing, and prosecuting wildlife offences.
Speakers from across India shared their wealth of knowledge on these matters. The event was inaugurated by esteemed Chief Guests, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivek Agarwal, Hon’ble Justice Mr. G.R. Swaminathan, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vinod Diwakar, alongside a diverse audience of judicial officers, forest officers, police officers, and advocates at the Hindustan College of Science and Technology in Mathura. The workshop featured inspiring keynote talks by all three High Court judges, focusing on the prosecution of wildlife offences through insightful references to past cases. Wildlife SOS Co-founder & CEO, Mr. Kartick Satyanarayan, and Deputy Director–Special Projects, Mr. Wasim Akram, further enriched the event with a presentation on wildlife crime and anti-poaching case studies.
The workshop addressed the importance of thorough evidence collection, presentation of documentation for the Hon’ble Courts, and investigation to increase conviction rates for such offences.
The Wildlife Crime Enforcement and Prosecution Workshop in Uttar Pradesh
In a recent workshop held for Mathura’s forest staff, crucial aspects such as plantation, eco-restoration, wildlife crime control, and law enforcement took centre stage.
Mr. Baiju Raj M. V., Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, emphasised on the importance of public-private partnership in wildlife conservation. Following this, Mr. Satyanarayan Vashishth, Advocate at the Supreme Court, delivered a detailed presentation on ‘Wildlife Crime and Law Enforcement’, guiding participants on case registration procedures for both wildlife articles and live animals. The interactive session touched upon wildlife protection laws and featured examples of cases involving elephants like Rama, and Jai. Legal perspectives were further explored by the Forest Department advocate in Mathura Division, who shared insights into ongoing cases, particularly those involving elephants and ‘dancing’ bear seizures. Mr. Harsh Tyagi, Advocate for the Forest Department in Noida, rounded off the session by sharing his experiences, with a specific focus on the elephant Chanchal’s case.
This dynamic workshop on animal crime and nature restoration served as a great training session that helped forest staff with the necessary knowledge and skills crucial for effective wildlife conservation and law enforcement.
If you wish to organise impactful workshops on wildlife conservation, health, and law enforcement in your institution, do reach out to Wildlife SOS at info@wildlifesos.org. To gain more insights on wildlife conservation, you can subscribe to our newsletter.
