Wildlife SOS’s Delhi Rescue Missions 2024

Beneath the gleaming citylights and towering skyscrapers of Delhi, the heart of our nation, a frequently disregarded story unfolds—one that concerns wildlife sharing this city.  As the National Capital Region rapidly evolves, its natural green habitats continue to shrink, forcing many animals to seek refuge in human settlements. These displaced animals, in search of food, water, and shelter, now find themselves increasingly vulnerable to the dangers posed in urban surroundings. This has also led to growing conflict between humans and wildlife, an alarming issue that is often fraught with risks for both sides.

However, we are not without hope, as people are now becoming more aware of the necessity of a peaceful coexistence with wildlife. Unlike in the past where people would be consumed by a panic-driven aggression, Delhiites nowadays are reaching out to concerned authorities and organisations like Wildlife SOS for help when they suddenly encounter a wild animal.

Wildlife SOS has been working tirelessly at the forefront to rescue animals in distress, providing them with expert medical aid and assistance. As we entered 2024, the capital’s reputation for its notoriously cold winters with chilly winds once again posed significant risks to its urban wildlife, specifically for the city’s avian population that is highly affected by the harsh weather. Between December 2023 and January 2024, over 120 birds—including black kites, blue rock pigeons, peafowls and painted storks—had been found suffering from hypothermia, frostbite, and cold shock, and were given urgent medical treatments by our team.

The year that followed indicated the growing need for wildlife protection in the capital, with rescues of nearly 1,600 birds and animals conducted by Wildlife SOS’s Rapid Response Unit in Delhi-NCR. Let’s take a look at some of the most riveting rescues of 2024.

• Urgent Rescue at PM’s Residence

Wildlife SOS responded to a distress call from the Prime Minister’s residence when Delhi was experiencing scorching summer heat in June last year. A one-year-old rhesus macaque was found severely dehydrated and suffering from hyperthermia: a condition that causes abnormally high body temperature.

This condition was the result of a heat stroke, a grim indication of how extreme climate change can impact animals. After careful examination, our skilled veterinary doctors administered intravenous fluids, multivitamin fluid therapy, and oral rehydration salts (ORS) to stabilise the macaque.

• Crisis in the Capital for Avians

In July 2024, Delhi Forest Department raided a smuggling outfit in the Jama Masjid market of old Delhi where over 700 endangered wild birds, encaged to be sold, were seized. After a call from the Deputy Conservator of Forests, our Rapid Response Unit rushed to the site with bird care experts, who immediately shifted the birds from tiny, compact cages to larger ones. These rescued birds included rose-ringed parakeets, Alexandrine parakeets, plum-headed parakeets, black-headed munias and scaly-breasted munias. The birds were given aid and after careful checkups and necessary nursing, were released back into the wild.

• A Peacock’s Plight at Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi

In September 2024, another significant rescue took place from Prime Minister Modi’s house in New Delhi after a call concerning the perilous plight of a peacock was received. The bird, with its legs bound and feathers plucked out viciously, needed urgent aid. The Wildlife SOS swiftly dispatched a team to address the situation.

Immediate treatment in the form of medications was given to the peacock, after which it was transferred to the Wildlife SOS transit facility for further care. After the peacock recovered, it was released safely into a suitable habitat. This case highlights the ongoing cruelty our national bird continues to face, and the dire need of compassionate interventions.

• Expert Cobra Rescue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

In October 2024, a notable operation took place when an Indian cobra (Naja naja) was successfully rescued from the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India’s President. The 4-foot-long cobra was discovered sheltering in a hole in the boundary wall of the residence, urging security personnel to immediately contact Wildlife SOS for assistance.

Our ever-ready team of Delhi’s Rapid Response Unit arrived to conduct a careful and well-coordinated operation while ensuring the safety of both the venomous snake and those nearby. The cobra was safely extricated and relocated to a suitable habitat after it was determined to medically fit.

• Spotting Pythons in a Surprising Place

Throughout the year, Wildlife SOS responded to multiple snake rescue calls from the city. But in November, we received a call that led our Delhi team to not one, but two rescues of the same species, at the same site on the same day.

A 4-foot-long baby Indian rock python was found coiled and motionless on a slab in the canteen of National Power Training Institute in Badarpur. When our team reached the institute, another 5-foot-long python was spotted in the back garden of the professional academy. Our diligent team members safely rescued the two non-venomous snakes, kept them under close observation, and released both once they were declared fit.

• Saving a Civet from Tissue Dispenser Machine

In a unique rescue operation, Wildlife SOS saved an adult Asian palm civet from an unusual spot—a tissue dispenser machine—at the Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA) office in Delhi’s Katwaria Sarai. The incident that occurred in the chilly month of December 2024 began when a housekeeper spotted the civet in the director’s cabin and quickly secured the room to prevent its escape. When the office staff went ahead to search for the animal, it was found taking refuge in a tissue dispenser.

Wildlife SOS’s rescue team promptly arrived after being informed of the situation. The civet was carefully extricated, and a thorough medical examination was conducted as per our rescue protocol. Once declared healthy, the civet was released back into the wild, marking another successful operation by the dedicated Wildlife SOS team.

Our 24×7 rescue hotline in Delhi continues to ring constantly, indicating how urban wildlife is subject to constant danger. At the same time, it also signifies a positive shift in the way citizens are reacting to sudden and unexpected encounters with wildlife. By reaching out to Wildlife SOS, animals in distress receive the care and attention they desperately need.

Every rescue mission also becomes an opportunity to educate the local community on being cautious and sensitive to animal behaviour. The need to protect urban wildlife is urgent, and your help is vital. If you spot an animal in distress, please don’t wait! Call the Wildlife SOS Delhi-NCR Helpline immediately at +91-9871963535. Let’s make this world a better and kinder place for the voiceless animals!

You can also donate, volunteer, or spread awareness on Wildlife SOS’s animal conservation efforts.