Wildlife SOS is saving India’s imperiled wildlife one bear and elephant at a time

By Staci-lee Sherwood

When most people in western countries think of elephants they envision wild Africa.  The wild west of the United States is what many think of when they hear about bears.  India is home to both species, the Sloth Bear and the Indian Elephant.  Back in 1996 two people took a look around and noticed some very disturbing things.  They saw the daily abuse of both these species and decided, against the odds, to work on saving them.  Neither set out to create the nonprofit Wildlife SOS, but they did and they’ve had some great conservation success. 

Wildlife SOS came to Florida in 2026 and showed a film of their work.  I was deeply impressed.  I had the chance to meet and talk with one of the founders, Kartick Satyanarayan, and asked him some questions about his organization.

How it all started

I asked Kartick what the toughest obstacles he and co-founder Geeta Seshamani had overcome when starting a nonprofit.  “In the early days, everything was a challenge, from securing permissions to raising funds.  It took nearly five years to rescue our first bear, but once we crossed that milestone, we were able to go on to rescue over 600 bears across the country. The other challenge was to ensure we gave the best care when there was very little knowledge about this unique species.  We had little information about bear medicine, simple things like blood values, the milk and diet for cubs, dentistry and surgery.  Everything was learned in the field.  Today we have 7 published volumes of research and case studies that we hope will help wildlife rescuers and veterinary students.“

“At Wildlife SOS, we work closely with communities, helping rehabilitate former handlers and poachers, creating alternative livelihoods, and promoting coexistence. This ensures that rescue is not just a one-time intervention, but part of a larger, more sustainable change.  Ultimately, true conservation must protect not just the species, but also the dignity, well-being, and future of the communities connected to them.”

Of Bears and Elephants

Global population of Sloth bears is estimated to be about 15,000 – 20,000.  Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, India is home to 90% of the world’s population.  Their population is in decline due to loss of habitat which is a global crisis for most wildlife.  The Sloth bear is smaller than the Polar and Grizzly bears and has long fur around their neck which resembles a Lion’s mane.  The Indian elephant is smaller their African cousin.  India is home to about 60% of the wild Asian elephants.  They’re listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, poaching and human-elephant conflicts.   

I asked Kartick what was the biggest surprise he faced rescuing the Sloth Bears.  “Before we began rescuing dancing bears, Geeta and I spent time living with the Kalandar community to understand their relationship with the bears and their way of life.  What surprised us was lack of awareness about the damage they were causing wildlife and indifference to suffering these animals endured.  With a history of four centuries of bear dancing behind them we expected empathy and deeper understanding of the unique species they were handling or exploiting as it were.  

“It made us realize early on the bears had become commercial vehicles for earning a living and they clung to this practice desperately having no other avenue of earning livelihoods, not because of any deeper bonds.  Besides bears they had monkeys, civet cats, owls and other such wildlife they “displayed” at fairs and rural marketplaces.  Conservation of Sloth Bears in the wild would involve the rehabilitation of living conditions for the Kalandar community too.”

Cofounder Geeta Seshamani with a Kalandar man and his dancing bear.  Education is key to ending any animal abuse and preventing it from returning

“Sloth bears are incredibly expressive and intelligent animals. Despite everything they’ve been through, many of them slowly learn to trust again. Watching a rescued bear climb a tree or forage freely for the first time is always special. They are agile and inquisitive and have strong likes and dislikes whether it be in food choices or choice of a friend to share an enrichment with in their enclosure.”

“A recent example is Gracie, who was rescued from the dancing bear trade after nearly 12 years of exploitation. Seeing her slowly rediscover natural behaviors and explore her new environment has been incredibly heartening.  Watching Gracie explore her surroundings and interact with them as wild bears should is a deeply heartening sight for everyone who cares for her.”

“The first time Gracie was introduced to her natural enclosure she excitedly explored every corner and possibly for the first time climbed a tree with carefree enthusiasm.”

I asked what were some of the happiest or most unique things you have learned working with these rescued animals.  “Elephants have deeper emotional bonds and they form strong friendships which last a lifetime, they show empathy, and have remarkable memory.  Watching them heal, physically and emotionally and begin to interact freely with our caregivers and other elephants is one of the most rewarding parts of our work.  Whether it’s the way Emma, Maya, and Phoolkali welcomed Tara into their group, or how Bani has gone from being immobile to running around and forming a close bond with her caregivers.  These moments are constant reminders of their resilience and capacity for trust and affection.”

Click here for a sweet video of a happy rescued Sloth bear https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2ZUGmNa3K1s

Click here to see the bond between elephants https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VPINfjbPQWc

Helping Sloth Bears recover from abuse

The infamous tradition of the ‘dancing bears’ of India is gone.  The last dancing bear was rescued in 2009 by Wildlife SOS.  The bears didn’t dance, they were forced to hop around in pain while their owner yanked on a rope embedded deep in their nose that caused pain when pulled on.  This was a tradition of cruel entertainment for 400 hundreds.  It’s finally gone, let’s hope for good.

Dancing bears suffer this painful method of control by having their nose brutally pierced with a hot iron rod so a rope could be forced through it

A Kalandar man with his dancing bear performing for the public

“Ultimately, true conservation must protect not just the species, but also the dignity, well-being, and future of the communities connected to them.” – Kartick Satyanarayan

Saving the Elephants

While the use of these gentle giants by the logging industry has been replaced by faster modern machines, their exploitive abuse continues in other ways.  I asked Kartick what is driving the use/exploitation of elephants.  “Elephants hold a deep cultural and emotional significance in India, and that’s part of the problem. People admire them, want to interact with them, take photos, or ride them, but very few understand what goes on behind the scenes.”

The ‘training’ of elephants is brutal.  “To make elephants compliant, they are subjected to brutal training methods at very young ages.  The rest of their lives as captive elephants involves exploitation and over work, poor living conditions and  inability to satisfy any of their biological needs.  This demand for interaction from people whether in tourism, ceremonies, or entertainment, continues to drive their exploitation and misery. What is often perceived as admiration or love for elephants ends up enabling their suffering.”  This is why public education and outcry is so important. 

Click here to learn more about the training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DP3uPfuKZY

“Our Begging Elephant Campaign aims to end the use of elephants for street begging by 2030. Many of the elephants we rescue through this initiative have endured years of abuse, malnutrition, and lack of medical care.  Rehabilitation is not just about giving them a safe space, but also addressing the larger systems that allow such exploitation to continue.  It will take time, but with consistent effort, stronger awareness, and public support, we do believe that change is possible — just as it was with the dancing bears.”

I asked Kartick how best to stop the elephant abuse and did he see it ending like with the use of sloth bears?  “Ending the use of elephants in captivity is far more complex than stopping the dancing bear trade.  It is deeply tied to economics, religious sentiments, and long-standing cultural practices. But change is possible, we’ve seen it happen before.”

“The approach has to be multi-layered: rescue and rehabilitation, awareness around ethical tourism, and working closely with communities and authorities to address the root causes of exploitation. At Wildlife SOS, our work reflects this broader approach.  Through initiatives like Haathi Sewa, India’s first mobile elephant clinic, we are able to reach elephants across the country and provide on-site veterinary care for conditions such as lameness, infections, and untreated wounds, issues that often go ignored in captivity. At the same time, we engage with mahouts to ensure continued care and better welfare practices.”

The Haathi Sewa mobile veterinary clinic was launched to ensure that no captive elephant suffers due to lack of medical care.  It travels across the country to provide treatment and preventive healthcare.  Here are two lucky rescued elephants but many more still languish in captivity.

The Haathi Sewa ambulance is equipped with state of the art diagnostic tools and medical supplies to treat elephants in need

“Every time we choose to engage with wildlife — whether it’s riding an elephant, watching animals perform, or even how we approach wildlife tourism — we are directly influencing that animal’s life. If we make informed and compassionate choices, we can reduce the demand for exploitation. Awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have.” - Kartick Satyanarayan

Do animal abusers face accountability?

This is always the sticking point for any nonprofit, sanctuary or activist.  After all the hard work, time and expense does the abuser get away with it?  If so then abuse will continue with another animal.  If the abuser is an industry, that must be shut down.  International crime and trafficking takes on a magnitude of issues, time and bureaucracy and can take years to prove.  I asked if INTERPOL had been helpful with tracking and prosecuting animal abuses and traffickers, if anyone sell animals or moves them to other countries to evade criminal charges.

“Wildlife crime today often operates across borders, so collaboration between agencies is absolutely essential.  While we have not directly collaborated with INTERPOL, partnerships with our own Police forces, Forest departments, and institutions such as the Wildlife Crime Bureau and other non government entities plays a critical role in tackling international wildlife trafficking networks.”  Part of the problem is so many agencies being involved, each with their own agenda, policy and focus.

“A good example of how impactful cross-border cooperation can be is the repatriation of 97 smuggled Indian star tortoises from Singapore back to India back in 2017.  These tortoises were part of the illegal wildlife trade, a trade that sees tens of thousands of star tortoises being trafficked each year for the exotic pet market, and in some cases even for food and traditional medicine.”  An amazing rescue but so many animals never get rescued.  The wildlife trade is estimated to be worth upwards of $20 billion and growing.

“The tortoises were intercepted by Singapore authorities and placed under the care of a local NGO, after which a complex international effort began. Wildlife SOS worked alongside ACRES in Singapore, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), and multiple Indian agencies including the Karnataka Forest Department, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to facilitate their return.”

“This process was far from simple. It involved months of inspections, medical assessments, permits, quarantine protocols, and careful planning to ensure the animals could safely return to their natural habitat. It stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when governments and organizations work together across borders with a zero-tolerance approach to wildlife trafficking.  Our anti-poaching unit, Forest Watch, continues to work closely with state forest departments and wildlife crime control authorities across India to actively combat wildlife crime and prevent such illegal activities from continuing.”

How much punishment do animal abuses receive in India?

“India does have strong laws when it comes to protecting wildlife, especially under the Wildlife Protection Act.  In serious cases involving protected species, offences can lead to imprisonment of 3 to 7 years, along with fines, and in some cases, even denial of bail.  In contrast, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, penalties for cruelty can be extremely low, which does little to act as a deterrent.”  In general laws protecting animals, wild or domestic, have always been weaker than needed and not nearly as enforced as they should be and this is a global crisis.

“However, reality is more complex.  While the legal framework is strong on paper, enforcement and consistency remain a challenge and getting a conviction is rare.  So while strict punishment exists, especially for wildlife crimes, in the law, the gap between the law and its implementation is where the real issue lies. Strengthening enforcement and ensuring meaningful penalties is critical if we want to truly prevent cruelty, poaching and exploitation of wildlife.”

Other animals are saved too

“Today, Wildlife SOS provides lifetime care to over 300 rescued animals — including elephants, bears, and leopards — each with very specific physical and psychological needs after years of neglect or exploitation.  Since our inception, we’ve rescued and assisted tens of thousands of animals across India, especially through our Rapid Response Units.  Rescue is only the first step.  For many of these animals, care is life long, that’s why consistent, long-term support is so important. It allows us to plan ahead, maintain high standards of care, and be ready when the next animal in distress needs help.”

Radio transmitters were attached to the shells of repatriated star tortoises from Singapore to Karnataka allowing teams to monitor their survival in the wild

Following a soft release the tortoises were returned to the wild and tracked using radio telemetry to ensure their successful adaptation

Help this nonprofit continue their important work saving abused wildlife

There are many ways to help from donations and fundraising to volunteering.  Help Wildlife SOS continue saving animals which have a tougher chance of survival then they did a century ago.  Without human intervention many would perish.  “Caring for these animals is a long-term commitment. On average, it costs approximately USD 545 per week to care for a sloth bear, while an elephant requires around USD 756 per week.  These costs cover food and water, enrichment, specialized veterinary care, infrastructure, enclosure maintenance, and the dedicated manpower required for their daily care.”

• “There are many ways people can support our work.  Donations and sponsorships directly help us care for rescued animals and sustain our long-term efforts.”

  
  

• “Equally important is spreading awareness — choosing not to support activities that exploit wildlife, and encouraging others to do the same. Even small, conscious choices can collectively create a meaningful impact.”

  
  

• “Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes part of an animal’s daily life. It helps provide nutritious food, medical treatment, clean water, and enrichment that allows them to heal and rediscover natural behaviours. It also supports the less visible but equally important aspects like maintaining enclosures, running rescue vehicles, and keeping veterinary teams equipped and ready to respond to emergencies at any time.”

  
  

• Click here to learn more about saving elephants

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9MVLl-5m3Y

  
  

• Click here to learn more about them

  https://wildlifesos.org/

• and here 

  https://wildlifesos.org/awards/