Wildlife SOS (WSOS) is a charity in India, working closely with the Indian Government to help India's endangered species.
WSOS were determined to put a stop to the practice of dancing bears when no one believed it possible. After years of research into the practice, and with hard work and inventiveness, they established their first bear sanctuary in Agra. Following their research, they found a way to negotiate the release of dancing bears with their Kalandar handlers (a tribe, whose members earn a living out of making bears perform) in exchange for assistance in starting an alternative trade and funds to start a new life (without a bear). When the handlers give up their bears, they sign documents that will ensure that they are sanctioned if they acquire another bear. Wildlife SOS helps them set up their new business, which can be a market stall, rickshaw driving, carpet weaving, tailoring or any other viable trade they wish to start. WSOS also gives them financial support and community advice. So far, Wildlife SOS has successfully rescued over 550 performing sloth bears and the end of this brutal practice is finally here! India's last dancing bears were rescued in December 2009. These bears have all now retired in one of the four WSOS bear sanctuaries across India, receiving excellent veterinary care and a chance to live a life free from pain, hunger and suffering. These bears can sadly never be released back into the wild as they have lost the ability to fend for themselves. Their teeth have been broken with metal rods by their handlers and several bears suffer from blindness as well as mental, psychological and physical problems following their lives in captivity. These bears now need life time care for the rest of their natural lives. Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani are the co founders of Wildlife SOS and their dedication to these bears, as well as the many staff at the centres, many of them rehabilitated kalandar youngsters, ensure that these amazing animals receive an outstanding level of care and an opportunity to spend the rest of their lives as bears in beautiful forested enclosures at the rehabilitation centres of WSOS.
Wildlife SOS also work closely with Government enforcement agencies like the Police & the wildlife department to curb poaching of bear cubs. The efforts of WSOS's enforcement wing (called forestwatch established with support from One Voice Association) works round the clock to detect and prevent wildlife crime and poaching practices that threatened India's endangered wildlife. The dedicated anti-poaching unit (Forestwatch) monitors trade routes, trade points and underground markets for bear cubs and other wildlife.
WSOS is working to make a difference by establishing habitat protection areas through acquiring private land which are falling victims to illegal stone quarrying and creating protected buffer zones and fringes of wild land for endangered species, such as bears, pangolins, tortoises, leopards, reptiles and civet cats among others. They do not stop there however and with implacable energy, they also run a leopard sanctuary, a monkey rehabilitation project, a reptile protection program, bird rescue facilities and an elephant conservation program, as well as working with local communities to help the highly endangered dugongs.
Hauser Bears is committed to work closely with Wildlife SOS for years to come supporting their vital work.
Please take the time to visit Wildelife SOS's website to learn more about their projects, bear-related or otherwise