Kartick Satyanarayan

I am a co-founder of Wildlife SOS, a non profit nature & wildlife conservation organization dedicated to protecting and conserving India's wildlife. One of Wildlife SOS's keystone projects is to end the brutal age old practice of 'Performing bears' in India. Since 2002, we have rescued more than 550 bears from a cruel life as street performers in the hands of the Nomadic Kalandar Tribal community. Wildlife SOS has provided seed funds & alternative livelihoods to rehabilitate the former Kalandar bear dancers in sustainable, alternative and humane vocations so they can rise from their life of crime and live with dignity . Wildlife SOS also works to prevent poaching, and to protect critical habitat throughout the country. WSOS Centers in India 1. Agra Bear Rescue Facility and Conservation Center 2. Bhopal Bear Rescue Center 3. Bannerghatta Bear Sanctuary 5. Purulia Bear Rescue Center 6. Elephant Rescue & Rehabilitation Center 7. Junnar Leopard Rescue Center 8. Gurgaon Wildlife Rescue Center WILDLIFE SOS (WSOS) (Registered Charity, headquartered in India with offices in UK & USA) • Founded in 1995 with Ms Geeta Seshamani. • Objective - to protect India’s environmental and wildlife resources from unsustainable exploitation. WSOS ACTIVE PROJECTS 1. Agra Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre - 16 km from Agra city center, largest bear rescue centre in the world - established in 1999 in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Houses over 270 endangered sloth bears in large, free-ranging forested enclosures. Most bears rescued dancing bears which were once cruelly dragged around the streets of India, with their muzzles pierced and their teeth broken, to entertain tourists and villagers. Bear cubs rescued from poachers are also rehabilitated at the center. The center has a unique Wildlife Hospital with modern dental & surgical equipment. 2. Tribal Rehabilitation & Education – To enable Kalandars to surrender their bears to WSOS and not use wildlife as a source of income, WSOS provides training and financial support to the Kalandar community while sponsoring the education . Alternative livelihoods training include carpet weaving, dairy farming, cycle repair shops, and welding. WSOS also runs health camps for the Kalandars and sponsors the education of children in seven villages. Over 500 Kalandar families have given up their bears and are now engaged in alternative businesses & enjoy a better quality of life. 4. Wildlife & Snake Helpline – WSOS team receives over 600 calls a month and works around the clock to help people who get into conflict with wild animals - we rescue wild animals such as Snakes, monkeys, monitor lizards, civet cats, birds, jackals, Leopards that are trapped in Delhi and its surrounding urban areas. The animals are given veterinary care, and carefully rehabilitated and released in their natural habitat in the wild. 5. Reptile Conservation and Rescue - WSOS works with snakes and crocodiles in an attempt to create awareness amongst the public to reduce ignorance about these creatures who are always misunderstood. 6. Forest Watch Project – WSOS’ Anti-Poaching Unit works with Government enforcement agencies across India. Field investigators work hard to prevent poaching & illegal wildlife trade and assist enforcement authorities in taking action against wildlife criminals. 7. Rehabilitation of Hunting Tribes & Snake Charmers – WSOS has harnessed tracking & trapping skills of these tribes and retrained them in responsible animal handling while providing them an alternative livelihood and steady income. Today over 50 families from these communities are working on WSOS projects. One of our landmark projects is the Wildlife & Animal Control for the Delhi International Airport. 8. Eco Volunteers / INternships / Wildlife Awareness Field Hands on Workshops - WSOS runs interactive wildlife awareness camps for school children & adults. 9. Elephant Conservation & Welfare Project – WSOS focuses on elephants that are used for begging in Indian cities and survive in extremely harsh, wretched conditions, plagued by foot sores, abscesses and dehydration. WSOS is embarking on an ambitious project to establish an Elephant Orphanage Hospital and Rescue Centre for sick and abused elephants. Another huge concern is for wild elephant calves that are trapped illegally and sold into the captive elephant market. They are trained using cruel methods and later used for begging, the tourist industry or in temples. 10. Habitat & Nature Protection - WSOS is acquiring privately owned wildlife habitat near Hampi in Karnataka. Situated on the Deccan Plateau of South India, the rocky outcrops, caves and enormous boulders are home to bears, leopards, hyenas, pangolins, blackbuck, wild boar, civets and porcupines etc