Wildlife SOS

We are Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organization dedicated to a very important mission: protecting India's precious wildlife. Our story began in 1995 in the city of New Delhi, India. Our founders, Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, saw that many of the country's beautiful wild animals were suffering and in serious trouble. They knew that these animals needed someone to stand up for them, so they created our organization to rescue animals in danger and provide them with lifelong care. As a non-profit, our goal isn't to make money, but to use all of our resources to help animals and protect the natural world we all share.

One of our very first and most important projects was helping a special kind of animal: the sloth bear. For hundreds of years, a community of people known as the Kalandar had a tradition of capturing sloth bear cubs from the wild. They would then train these bears to 'dance' on streets for money from tourists and locals. While it was called 'dancing,' it was actually a very painful and cruel practice for the bears. We knew we had to put an end to this suffering. It was a huge challenge, but we were determined. We worked carefully and tirelessly to rescue every single 'dancing' bear in India. By the year 2009, we had achieved our goal—the last 'dancing' bear was rescued, and the practice was finally over.

Our work didn't stop with just rescuing the bears. We understood that the Kalandar people relied on the bears to support their families. To create a lasting solution, we knew we had to help the people as well. We worked with the community to help them find new jobs and learn different skills. This way, they could earn a living without having to harm any more animals. This approach ensured that both the bears and the people had a better future. It taught us an important lesson that protecting wildlife often means working closely with human communities to find peaceful solutions for everyone.

After the bears were rescued, they needed a safe place to live for the rest of their lives. They couldn't be returned to the wild because they had spent their lives with humans and wouldn't know how to survive. So, we built special homes for them called sanctuaries. These are large, natural spaces where animals are protected and cared for. One of our most well-known homes is the Agra Bear Rescue Facility. Here, the bears can climb trees, play with each other, and live peacefully. After our success with the bears, we turned our attention to another magnificent animal in need: the elephant. Many elephants in India were being hurt while being forced to work in busy cities or give rides to tourists. To help them, we created the Elephant Conservation and Care Center. This center is like a peaceful retirement home where old and injured elephants can finally rest, heal, and live freely with other elephants.

Today, our work at Wildlife SOS continues and has grown even larger. We run a 24-hour emergency hotline for any wild animal that is injured, trapped, or in danger. People can call us day or night, and our rescue teams are ready to help. We now rescue many different kinds of animals, including leopards that have wandered into villages, snakes found in people's homes, and injured birds. Our rescue centers are now home to thousands of animals, and our team of veterinarians and dedicated staff works around the clock to give them the best possible care. We also know that rescuing animals one by one is not enough. To truly protect wildlife, we must also protect the forests where they live. We work to save these natural habitats and also spend time in communities, teaching people how to live safely and peacefully alongside wildlife. By helping people understand animals better, we can prevent conflicts before they ever happen, creating a safer world for both humans and animals.