Enable India Volunteers Visit BBRC!

Communication is the very essence of human interaction, tracing its origins back to the earliest days of civilisation. From the primitive use of symbols and gestures to the development of complex languages, both verbal and non-verbal communication have evolved as fundamental tools for expressing thoughts, emotions, and ideas. In our modern world, the ability to communicate is often taken for granted. However, for people who are unable to vocalise or hear, this is the very requirement they need to lead enriching lives.

In a volunteership programme organised by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with Enable India, an organisation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through skill training and employment opportunities, 16 specially-abled individuals, along with four interpreters, arrived at Karnataka’s Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC). The sessions held on 3rd and 4th January, 2025, provided our esteemed visitors with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in Wildlife SOS’s care and conservation efforts for our resident sloth bears.

The programme began with a presentation about sloth bears, and included the screening of ‘Saving The Dancing Bear’ and ‘The Last Dance’. The messages in these videos were conveyed to the hearing impaired and mute group by the interpreters accompanying them. The emotions captured in these films resonated deeply with the volunteers as they were apprised of the cruel way in which sloth bears were treated as ‘dancing’ bears.

Presentation at BBRC for the Enable India Team — During the presentation held, volunteers from Enable India learned about different species of bears, and about Wildlife SOS’s projects involving leopards, sloth bears, and elephants, and BBRC’s pivotal role in conservation and research. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

They were also introduced to the challenges of human-wildlife conflict, including the use of snare traps for poaching wild sloth bears, and Wildlife SOS’s efforts to mitigate these conflicts. The group was then divided into two smaller teams that were given a holistic tour of BBRC. As they witnessed the rescued sloth bears, our team informed them about the situations from which they were finally saved.

The visiting team were also shown the in-house mealworm rearing unit, a crucial and nutritious component of the bears’ diet. The team members explained the process of breeding mealworms, highlighting their health benefits for sloth bears. Volunteers were fascinated by the life cycle of mealworms and were even given the opportunity to observe them up close.

Enable India Volunteers being briefed about Mealworms — Protein-rich mealworms are nutritious and also serve as inclusions in enrichments, encouraging bears to engage in their natural behaviour in order to retrieve them. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

Various enrichments created for sloth bears by our caregivers were made known to the volunteers. While observing these, they learned about the importance of enrichments in mitigating stereotypic behaviours caused by the traumatic experiences bears went through. Head-tossing and swaying are often misinterpreted as being cheerful signs, but these are signals that show the stress and negative impact of captivity sloth bears have faced.

Volunteers were introduced to Enrichments for Bears — The group was introduced to various enrichment tools created for sloth bears such as ball feeders, multi-layered puzzles, platform feeders, and bamboo puzzles, which they also helped to create as part of the volunteership programme. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

Each group of volunteers visited the treatment facility at BBRC, where they saw the advanced medical instruments for treatments that Wildlife SOS veterinarians have for sloth bears. The volunteers gained insights into the malnourished conditions that many rescued sloth bears are found with, often supplemented with parasitic infections and digestive issues. BBRC is also home to geriatric bears suffering from respiratory ailments, which are managed with exceptional precision and care by the highly skilled veterinary team.

Volunteers were briefed about the treatment facility — During the visit to BBRC’s treatment facility, the function of the Operation Theatre was explained to the volunteers, and they gained insight on the extensive range of medical instruments and equipment like X-ray machines, surgical tools, and dental care instruments that were present for health examinations of the bears. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

BBRC’s Eco-Friendly Bear Kitchen was where the volunteers understood how sloth bear porridge meals were made. The entirety of BBRC depends on renewable sources of energy, and even the bear kitchen uses briquettes that are made from organic materials that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

BBRC's Bear kitchen — The group of volunteers were shown the entire process of porridge making in the bear kitchen and were informed about the proportion of nourishing and energy-boosting ingredients used in it. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

The volunteers were captivated by the sight of bears enjoying their enrichments and engaging in playful mock fights. This added to their excitement to make enrichments for the bears, for which all the necessary materials were made available to them as they assisted the caregiving team. The activity proved to be an eventful one as caregivers demonstrated each step of the process.

Enrichment making exercises performed by Enable India Team — Volunteers had a fun time creating enrichments like ball and bamboo feeders for sloth bears, and after putting in patient effort, were delighted to see the finished versions. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

Enable India volunteers also took part in joining the caregivers to de-weed and sweep leaves from bear enclosures to ensure that the fields remained clean and safe for the bears. Along with this, the group also assisted in cleaning the pools, and scrubbing away dirt and debris to maintain the hygiene and comfort of the areas bears use. These maintenance tasks not only contributed to the upkeep of the facility, but also gave them a deeper appreciation for the dedication involved in caring for rescued wildlife.

Volunteers assisting caregivers — The volunteers assisted caregivers in cleaning the grounds and pools in the enclosures used by sloth bears. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

At BBRC, sustainability is a way of life, ensuring that nothing goes to waste — not even the used water from the enclosure pools. In a heartwarming display of teamwork, the volunteers formed human chains, carefully passing buckets of water from the pools to irrigate the native saplings and plants surrounding the enclosures. This simple yet impactful activity symbolised the collective effort and harmony that drives wildlife conservation.

Pool cleaning at bear enclosures by Enable India Volunteers — The coordinated effort made the pool cleaning process efficient, fostering a sense of teamwork. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

The sessions held over the two days had also become a two-way learning experience: while the volunteers gained invaluable insights into bear care and conservation, BBRC staff learned about sign language and the volunteers’ unique perspectives. Our inspired team expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Enable India volunteers.

Vinod Kantamneni addressing the queries of the Enable India team — Vinod Kantamneni, Manager of the Education & Volunteer Programme – Wildlife SOS, addressed all the queries raised by the volunteers that were curious to understand sloth bear care. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

To add to the merriment, the volunteers introduced our team to a delightful game. This is how it was to be played: all members were to stand in a circle. One player would create a unique gesture or movement, which was to be imitated, one by one, by those standing to his right. The trick was that the person standing just before the creator of the original gesture had to change it before a whole round was completed. If this person missed changing the move, they would be out of the game! The laughter that echoed throughout this time was priceless.

The programme held between Wildlife SOS staff and the Enable India volunteers ended with smiles, cherishable memories and hearts full of love and admiration.

Enable India team along with Wildlife SOS staff played games together — Laughter, teamwork, and treasured memories brought everyone together in the most joyous way! [Photo © Wildlife SOS/ Hemant Chakma]

Volunteering at the Wildlife SOS rescue facilities offers a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to the welfare of bears and elephants in India. With programme fees directly supporting the centres, participants help sustain critical conservation efforts. If you are a wildlife enthusiast and would like to undergo one of the most memorable and productive experiences of a lifetime, get in touch with us at visit@wildlifesos.org

Enable India Volunteers Visit BBRC!

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