The sight of wild animals in our cities is becoming increasingly common. This seemingly strange occurrence has a root cause: habitat fragmentation. Throughout history, human activities have divided and disrupted natural habitats. Forests today are being cleared for agricultural expansion, roads dissect landscapes, and the increasing urban areas replace natural ecosystems. These broken habitats leave plenty of wild animals homeless, and have even created a disparity in their migration patterns.
The disruption has pushed animals to search for resources to survive, and have led them closer to human settlements. Here, the concrete jungle forms a confusing and dangerous environment where disposed, unhealthy food is conveniently available, and skills are applied in hunting for shelter. This is why we see animals like civet cats taking refuge on trees, or mugger crocodiles wandering through residential surroundings.
Organisations like Wildlife SOS play a vital role in such situations. Our Rapid Response Units actively operating in four regions namely Agra, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Vadodara rescue misplaced animals and return them to suitable natural habitats where they can live peacefully. In a tremendous effort, our rescue teams saved a remarkable total of 354 animals from all four states. Let’s highlight some of the challenging rescues” conducted by WSOS in March.
Unexpected Houseguest in Vadodara
Wildlife SOS works diligently with the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) and the forest department in conducting wildlife rescues and awareness drives among local residents that encounter wildlife frequently..
In the month of March, a collaborative effort was made after a frightful call regarding a surprise visitor was received from a residential colony near Jambuva, Vadodara. The appearance of a 6-ft-long mugger crocodile within the Gokuldham Society led to panic, yet, awareness among locals prompted them to immediately contact Wildlife SOS-GSPCA on their rescue helpline for urgent assistance.
Our trained rescue team handled the situation with utmost patience and was able to approach the crocodile safely. After conducting a thorough on-site medical examination, the mugger crocodile was found to be in good health, and was released back into its natural habitat by the Gujarat Forest Department.
Hyena Entangled in Agra
In a task that required extreme caution, sensitivity and attention, Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department rescued a trapped 5-year-old female Indian striped hyena from Agra. The animal was found stuck in the wired fencing of a farm in Palokhara village. The rescue operation lasted an hour before the hyena was carefully, and successfully, disentangled.
As a crucial part after every rescue, Wildlife SOS’s expert veterinary team conducted a thorough on-site examination of the animal, and kept it under medical observation. Assured of its physical health, the hyena was soon released back into its wild and natural habitat.
Unusual Sighting in Delhi Shop
A strange scenario took place in Delhi’s Ghitorni area when staff members of a gym store came across a scared animal in the washroom. It was an Asian palm civet that had ventured inside the shop’s premises, and discovered a spot to hide in the toilet.
As a swift response to the concerned call, the Rapid Response Unit from Wildlife SOS reached the godown premises, where it found the civet cat completely wet. The team, noticing how frightened the animal was, applied utmost care and precision to skillfully rescue the mammal from the situation.
Rat Snake in Kashmir Storehouse
When the temperature drops in Jammu and Kashmir, snakes often seek warm places for refuge. This was perhaps the reason why an odd snake sighting was made near a rice field in the city of Butpura, Kashmir. A sudden encounter with the serpent inside a married couple’s storehouse left the two petrified. After receiving a frantic call from the husband, our Rapid Response Unit promptly reached the location and identified the snake to be a rat snake, measuring around 6 inches in length. After extricating the snake from the bag within which it was hiding, our team conducted a brief on-site medical examination and found it to be healthy. The snake was then released back into the wild.
Every month, Wildlife SOS carries out numerous rescues of wild animals. Our Rapid Response Unit is established in the following regions and can be reached out for assistance:
Delhi NCR – +91 9871963535
Agra – +91 9917109666
Vadodara – +91 9825011117
Jammu and Kashmir – +91 7006692300, +91 9419778280
As a wildlife rescue and conservation organisation, we encourage you to immediately alert the Wildlife SOS team on these numbers if you spot a wild animal in distress.
