Wildlife SOS

Wildlife SOS was established to protect and conserve India's natural heritage, forest and wildlife wealth. The organization is working in India to address both wildlife conservation and welfare issues with captive wildlife. Wildlife SOS has several goals:

1) Wildlife SOS has rescued all of India's dancing bears. The last dancing bear in India was rescued in 2009 which brought the total to 627 bears rescued. Our current goal is to maintain India with no dancing bears for one generation.

2) Wildlife SOS seeks to improve the quality of life of captive elephants and help to preserve the wild populations of Asian elephants in India.

3) Creating model programs for reducing human animal conflict and improving animal welfare of captive animals.

1) Create model sanctuaries where animals that cannot be returned to the wild receive quality lifetime care.

2) Empowering communities that were previously exploiting wildlife to earn a living to not having to rely on animals for their livelihood.

3) Anti-poaching teams that work in the field to provide safer habitat.

4) Pursuing legal action to prevent illegal wildlife trafficking and enforcing existing laws.

5) Working with communities to coexist with wildlife.

6) Reduce public demand for elephant rides with awareness and education programs.

Wildlife SOS is registered in the USA, UK and India as a non-profit organization. All three entities work closely together to accomplish our goals. The organization has the following capabilities to carry out the strategies:

1) Wildlife SOS has 9 sanctuaries to provide lifetime care for elephants, bears and leopards. An experienced team of veterinarians and international colloborations help us provide world class medical care for the animals in the sanctuaries. We also have the first and only Elephant Hospital in India.

2) Wildlife SOS has a 24 hour wildlife rescue hotline operating in Delhi, India.

3) Wildlife SOS has an established team to oversee the empowerment programs for women and children in order to ensure a generation without dancing bears.

4) Wildlife SOS has an legal team experienced in animal welfare laws and issues.

Wildlife SOS has rescued 33 elephants from extreme abuse and provided them with high quality lifetime care.

The organization has ended the dancing bear problem that has existed for centuries. Thus far maintaining almost 10 years without a dancing bear in India.

The 24 hour call center has rescues thousands of birds, mammals and reptiles each year.

Wildlife SOS is expanding the existing sanctuary for elephants to prepare for future rescues. We opened India's first elephant hospital. This hospital provides care for not only our resident elephants but offer treatment to non-resident populations. In addition, the hospital will also serve as a teaching facility for medical professionals.

Creating a mahout (elephant caregiver) training program that provides basic training on humane elephant management and care.

Refuse to Ride advertising and awareness campaign launched to reduce demand for elephant riding. Our goal is to expand the advertising campaign worldwide via digital media.

We have developed a bear safety film to help educate locals on how to prevent bear attacks - for areas where sloth bear and human habitats overlap.