Clouded Leopard cubs[/caption]
Photo Source
The newborn cubs, found unaccompanied by the residents of the Kanthalmari village, were most likely orphans, having lost their parents to poachers. Wild Life Trust of India vet, Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury realised that he had two options in front of him - send the cubs to a zoo or euthanize them. Talking to The Better India, Dr Choudhary said that he couldn’t bring himself to do either. So, he decided to raise the cubs himself and teach them everything their mother would have to help them survive.
In the first attempt to rehabilitate clouded leopards in India, Dr. Choudhary brought together a team of vets, conservationists, and photographers to save and hand-raise the cubs he had named Runa and Kata. As not much is known about the behaviour of the mysterious clouded leopards, there was no guidebook to help the team in their project. Dr Choudhary says,
"When we started, we were almost unconvinced with our own idea. However, we decided to do our best."[caption id="attachment_77417" align="aligncenter" width="688"]
Dr Bhaskar Choudhary with a clouded leopard cub[/caption]
Along with his team, Dr Choudhary devised a new protocol (modeled on bear rehabilitation programme) to ensure that the cubs received the essential hunting skills while keeping their dependence on humans to the minimum.
After about six months, the team began taking the cubs on daily walks into the jungle. The cats would clamber up trees, using their rotating rear ankles to descend head first, their short limbs and long tails helping bolster their center of gravity. At night they were placed in a cage, suspended over the forest floor to get them used to the environment of their natural habitat.
Photo Source
As nursing orphan animals through bottles creates a dependency on human foster parents, the protocol mandated that amount of food provided to the cubs was reduced gradually. This was done to compel the cubs to interact with prey species for hunting and reduced their dependence on keepers. Finally, after one year, the cubs were radio-collared and released in the forest. After that, locals reported sightings of a spotted cat with a collar but Dr Choudhary wanted to know for sure if the rehabilitated cubs had survived. A year later, after a long wait, installed camera traps finally captured images of a collared clouded leopard. As the collars are meant to fall of after a year, there were no further sightings but Dr Choudhary remains hopeful about their continued survival. He says," If they made if for a year, they could make it for the rest of their lives. I hope they are alive."Interestingly, Runa and Kata's entire journey had been filmed by wildlife photographer Sandesh Kadur for what would end up becoming a National Geographic documentary!
You May Like: Time is Running Out for These 16 Endangered Wildlife Species in India. Learn More About Them.
Ever since, Dr Bhaskar Choudhary has been working tirelessly to help orphan and injured animals return to the forest and survive independently. The IFAW Wildlife Rescue Center, where he is the lead vet, cares for a wide range of species, including orphan elephant and rhino calves, wild buffaloes, tigers, leopards, deer, and birds. [caption id="attachment_77419" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Rescuing an injured rhino[/caption]
Having grown up in a village where close contact with wildlife was common-place, Bhaskar Choudhary ended up studying to become a wildlife veterinarian. After graduating in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Health from the Assam Agricultural University in 1999, he took a job with the Wildlife Trust of India. In 2000, he was posted to
the IFAW’s Wildlife Rescue Center, an outpost on the outskirts of the sprawling Kaziranga National Park
At the IFAW - WRC, Dr Choudhary would regularly treat injured creatures. He was also part of the original team that encouraged local people to provide support and information on displaced animals, specially during natural disasters like floods. In 2004, during the annual floods in Kaziranga National Park, the Assam forest department and IFAW-WCR rescued two stranded rhinos who were named Ganga and Jamuna.
[caption id="attachment_77428" align="aligncenter" width="670"]
Orphaned rhino calf being nursed[/caption]
However, the first rhino to be rescued was Mainao, back in 2002. Mainao had been quite traumatised and injured when she was rescued - the few weeks old rhino had been stuck in forked branches of trees during the floods. All three were nursed back to health at the WRC and when old enough, shifted to Manas National Park. Mainao, Ganga, and Jamuna were the first hand-reared rhinos to ever have been rehabilitated in the wild in India.
"While it was a proud moment for the team, what made me most happy was the fact that these little girls, who had been displaced from their natural habitat, were finally back where they belonged. Later, when we got the news that one of 'our' girls had become a mother, we were beside ourselves. Nothing can beat that incredible rush of joy and pride you feel when you see an animal you have rescued coming into their own. Also, this was literally history in the making – first rehabilitated rhino gives birth in the wild in India! So, I was doubly delighted."
Also Read: Wildlife Rescuers Work Overtime to Save 107 Animals, Including Rhinos, From Assam Flood Waters
Another innovative effort by the IFAW-WRC that deserves a mention is the rehabilitation of elephants who had been separated from their mothers soon after birth. Missing maternal warmth and affection, they struggled to sleep on the cold concrete floor of their rescue centre in north-eastern India (Small elephants have a hard time regulating their own body temperature). A WRC veterinarian, Dr. Panjit Basumantary, came up with an innovative solution - he fitted them with pajamas and socks for better sleeping at night! Keepers quickly saw improvements in their condition — they were warmer and more content in the mornings. [caption id="attachment_77415" align="aligncenter" width="952"]
An elephant calf watches proceedings with interest as another one has her boots fitted, specially designed to help the pair sleep[/caption]
Photo Source
Over 16 years, Dr Choudhary and his team of WRC vets have worked with over a thousand animals. The astute wildlife vet currently heads all activities in the region, including facilitation of emergency relief for wild animals in distress, implementation of rehabilitation of hand-raised animals and post-release monitoring. He is also responsible for connecting with government and non-government agencies to work towards Wildlife Trust of India's mission to conserve northeast India's fragile ecosystems. Dr Choudhary also supervises the care for animals under WTI's five Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) teams. The primary objective of an MVS unit is to minimise the crucial time gap between detection of an affected animal and subsequent veterinary aid. In addition to providing on-field medical assistance, the MVS assumes the responsibility of relocating affected animals to nearest rescue centres or field stations, as the need may arise. [caption id="attachment_77427" align="aligncenter" width="450"]
Elephant reintegration in progress[/caption]
Keeping in mind rescue missions of previous years, the team has fabricated multiple rescue cages for mammals, reptiles and birds, which include five cages made especially for deer. Efforts are also being made by the IFAW-WRC team, along with the Assam Forest Department and other local NGOs, to make people aware about the rescue protocols for the wildlife.
"Every year the locals of the fringe villages give their all in trying to rescue distressed wildlife, even while their own homes may be submerged. Such dedication and passion in protecting the natural heritage of the park is extremely touching", says Dr Choudhury, appreciating the efforts of the local villagers who give timely information to IFAW-WRC.Asked how other people can help them in their efforts to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife, Dr Choudhary says that the most important thing one can do is raise awareness about vulnerable species and what is being done to save them. Not only does it encourage people to volunteer for wildlife conservation, it also brings in much-needed funds that can help them get better equipment to rescue, rehabilitate and track the release of injured and orphan animals.
"It is my mission to ensure that rescued animals are rehabilitated in a way that they live a life that will keep them forever wild. And this is possible only due to the people who support our work at IFAW-WRC. So, I believe that awareness is of crucial importance", explains Dr Choudhary.A simple, unassuming man who enjoys music, photography and bird watching, Dr Bhaskar Choudhary was honoured with a national award by the Association of Indian Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians. He is now working to enable the placement of trained and equipped wildlife veterinarians in major protected areas across the country to ensure round-the-clock medical attention to displaced and distressed wild animals in need. The hardworking and determined vet ends by saying,
"I truly feel blessed to have been part of such ventures for the past decade. They have allowed me to experience life in such miraculous and invaluable ways. To see rescued animals back in the wild is worth every sleepless night spent worrying about them, every single drop of sweat spent trying to rescue them."Contact Details:
Dr Bhaskar Choudhary's email address is bhaskar@wti.org.in (mobile number is +91-9435748840)
You can also support WTI's work to rescue and protect wild animals by visiting wti.org.in.
Also Read: Guardians of Gir: This All-Female Wildlife Rescue Team Is Unlike Any in the World
Like this story? Have something to share? Email: contact@thebetterindia.
Also Read: Guardians of Gir: This All-Female Wildlife Rescue Team Is Unlike Any in the World
Snakebite is a major cause of accidental death in rural India.[/caption]
Jose Louies photographing the Malabar pit viper[/caption]
Snake venom being extracted[/caption]
The Indian cobra[/caption]
Backpack Rover[/caption]
It will be a huge improvement over the camera traps used by the forest department currently, which are mounted on light poles and trees in forests. With the moving robots transmitting live video feed from the ground, the task of monitoring the animals will become much easier.
The design for the robot was first developed by the team in 2013 for the student design competition organised by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).They worked tirelessly to come up with a model of the robot in a month. Their design won the second prize.
BackPack Rover, Built by Innovation Cell in collaboration with Centre of Excellence (NCETIS) on display at India International Security Expo, Pragati Maidan Delhi[/caption]
Children participating in Panna Nature Camp[/caption]
Two veteran teachers, 84-year-old Ambika Khare and 74-year-old Devidutta Chaturvedi have been conducting these camps since 2010. They were recently presented with the Sanctuary Asia 2016 Earth Heroes ‘GreenTeacher’ Award.
In 2009, when it was officially accepted by the Forest Department that Panna had lost all its tigers, the authorities decided to take a few steps to reverse the damage. Aside from implementing tiger reintroduction programmes and increasing anti-poaching measures, the need to spread awareness and start a dialogue with the local community was realised. Considering that the local participation often plays a major role in the work of conservation, the authorities started thinking of different ways to involve locals and the Panna Nature Camps were born. The camps, started in collaboration with the WWF-India, were a tool to spread knowledge and awareness and to invoke a sense of ownership and pride in the reserve among locals.
Children are taken on a trail in Panna Nature Reserve![/caption]
Ambika Khare accepting the 'Green Teacher' Award[/caption]
The beagles rescued by CUPA[/caption]
This year, heavy monsoon rains caused large scale flooding in Assam, forcing 1.2 million people to abandon their waterlogged homes. Eighty percent of Kaziranga National Park, one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in the world and home to the world’s largest population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, was also submerged under flood waters.
Mobile Veterinary Units of Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) worked day and night to rescue 62 hog deer, three eastern swamp deer, 10 Asian one-horned rhinoceros, and eight rhinos calves separated from their mothers. The Assam forest department also deployed over 1,000 people, including staff on the highways, to ensure safe passage of animals to the hills from low lying areas.
Sidda[/caption]
Animals caught in snares and traps often struggle for hours—in some cases, days—before succumbing to thirst, hunger, strangulation, internal injuries and even predation from carnivores. The animals that manage to escape often succumb to their injuries and die days or weeks after their painful escape. And this is not to mention the agony, terror and anxiety that any trapped animal will experience.
WildlifeSOS were appalled to discover that snares and traps were not just easily available, but were being sold in India by one of the world’s leading online retailers. The NGO immediately launched a petition imploring the global e-commerce giant to stop selling snares and other items that encourage or propagate maiming, hunting, trapping and killing of wildlife. As a result of sustained efforts, the petition gathered over 9,600 signatures with animal lovers from across the globe expressing their outrage and vowing to boycott the retailer. The retail giant finally gave in and sent a written confirmation, agreeing to remove all such items.
Read More 
After over 50 years of suffering, Mohan is finally finding happiness at his new home.[/caption]
Bhadra being treated (left), Bhadra with Karthik Dhandhapani[/caption]
The infamous viral video of a man throwing a dog from the terrace of a two-storeyed building had left many across the country shocked and outraged. But to everyone’s great relief, animal rights activist Shravan Krishnan and his team found Bhadra (the name they gave the dog) alive and took her to Vepery Medical College for treatment. He also filed an FIR as well as the petition in the Court against both the accused.
Even as Bhadra awaited justice against those who flung her off the terrace, she has found a permanent home with Karthik Dhandhapani, a resident of Chennai. In the heart-warming post he revealed how adopting Bhadra was a dream come true and how gradually the friendly dog had become family for him.
Read More 
Assam is believed to have the largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses in the world.[/caption]
In 2009, Mahesh Chandra Bora, a native of Guwahati, was commuting between Guwahati and Delhi when he came across an article about a woman using elephant poop to make paper in Rajasthan. Fascinated, he went to visit her and learn the craft. When he returned home, he wondered if he could do the same in Assam with rhinoceros poop. After all, Assam had many more rhinos than Rajasthan had elephants. Thus, he established Elrhino.
Mahesh Chandra Bora started Elrhino to connect the well-being of these endangered animals with the welfare of local communities.[/caption]
While Elrhino is Mahesh’s baby and vision, it has been given an identity and a business model by his daughter Nisha Bora. “I was working in Mumbai, Maharashtra, when my father started his enterprise. It was a time when all his friends and relatives were discouraging him from starting Elrhino. That was also a time when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. All I knew was that I wanted to do something different, new, interesting, and challenging. Whenever I came home for a vacation, my father’s dedication and initiative inspired me, and so I eventually decided to join him and his enterprise,” recalls Nisha.
[caption id="attachment_80209" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Keeping market demands in mind, Elrhino produces paper and also various paper-based products.[/caption]
Today, Elrhino is a successful brand making various paper-based products — from notebooks and pen stands to lampshades and playing cards — that are recognised by thousands of people across the globe. The firm also gives employment to more than 100 people directly or indirectly. It is these people — most of them farmers and other community members — who source the excreta and other forest waste from rhino- and elephant-trodden paths and then process it into a pulp to eventually turn it into paper and paper-based products. The brand then sells these products through orders online, especially through social media platforms, or through fairs and exhibitions.
But it all started with a simple vision to preserve the rhinos in the region by involving the local community, and subsequently providing the latter with letter livelihood options.
[caption id="attachment_80206" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Elrhino sustains livelihood of more than 100 individuals directly or indirectly.[/caption]
It is this simple vision that has consciously kept Mahesh and Nisha away from competing with other similar enterprises.
In pic above: Dr. Prakash Amte with the animals of Animal Ark.
Babli soon found a friend in the household dog. She would cling to the dog’s back and fearlessly play with it, unaware that it was the very species of animal the tribals used to hunt her own kind. This scene transformed many hearts. It also helped Dr. Prakash strike a deal with the Madia tribe. He couldn’t question the hunting rights of the tribe as the practice was necessary for them to obtain food, but he decided to at least try and save the baby animals. Dr. Prakash convinced the Madias not to kill minors of the animal kingdom, but to instead bring orphaned and injured animals to his home in return for food and clothes. A deal was struck.
One by one, jackals, leopards, jungle cats, common palm civets, rhesus macaques, sloth bears, giant squirrels, rat-tail langurs, four-horned antelopes, black buck antelopes, rat snakes, Indian pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, banded kraits, peacocks, a spotted deer, porcupines, and neelgai found their home at Animal Ark.
Never before had wild animals lived in such close contact with humans. The issue became a matter of concern for the government. Objections were raised against the breeding of wild animals in village settings. Regulations demanded that the wild animals be caged. Aniket Amte, the doctor couple’s son who had a rather Jungle-book style childhood, describes how he preferred the way things were before the cages were erected.
In pic above: Living the Jungle Book - Dr.Prakash Amte's son, Aniket, and grandson, Arnav.
Even with the cages, Animal Ark is more like an ‘asylum for animals’ than a zoo, with the unfettered love that Dr. Prakash and his family shower their adopted family with. Today, there are over 90 animals in the ark. The number of animals regularly brought to the Amte home has drastically reduced because the Madias hunt less.
In pic above: Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Mandakini Amte - Providing medical services to the tribal people since 1973.
Dr. Prakash also happens to be the son of Baba Amte, one of the greatest social reformers that our country has seen. While his father started Lok Biradari Prakalp and brought change to the lives of many leprosy patients in Anandwan, Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini decided to move to Hemalkhasa to continue the tradition of working for social reform.
Hemalkhasa, cut off from the rest of the world with no roads or electricity, has long been home to the tribal community of Madia-Gond that lived in abject poverty. The tribes of this area knew no techniques of agriculture and were totally dependent on the forest for their food. They wore no clothes, suffered from malnutrition and had no access to medical care. Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini set up a hospital where they treated tribal people for free. They started teaching the children from the community under a tree. Furthermore, they worked towards solving day-to-day problems of the villagers. The benefits of their work were reaped in the long run. Today the very children who studied under trees have become doctors, teachers, and engineers. The hospital is now equipped with modern facilities. The local school has a proper building and teaches over 400 tribal children. The tribal people have picked up agriculture and consequentially, they hunt less.
Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini are not veterinarians; they are both doctors who went to medical school. The Animal Ark was not a part of the plan they had for their lives but they went beyond conventions to create an animal haven within their own courtyard.
Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini were awarded the Ramon Magsasay Award in 2008 for their work in Gadchiroli. With great simplicity and saint-like devotion, they continue their work in this remote village.
Chamurti Horses[/caption]
Houses in Sagnam village[/caption]
Snow Leopards[/caption]
The sun rises to greet us on our snake walk.[/caption]
This idea – that it is difficult to enjoy the scenery while going down an unfamiliar and uneven path – is relevant to what my life is as an AIF Clinton Fellow. I am working at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology (MCBT) in Tamil Nadu, India. Something so different from college, and from anything I’ve ever done before. Unexplored terrain. I don’t know where the potholes lie, but I know there will be potholes. However this time, instead of cautiously looking for them and trying not to trip, I am going to trust that I will be able to get up after any fall. With a sure step, I plan on moving forward without constantly looking down to check myself.
I’d like to start by formally introducing you to the fantastic organization that I am working with, as well as the project that I am pursuing.
The “Croc Bank,” as it is lovingly called, was founded 40 years ago by two fantastic humans—Zai, whom I have the pleasure of working with, and Rom, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting. Around the 1970s, crocodile hunting and trade was rampant in India and as a result, populations of various species were dwindling. In 1976, the Croc Bank was established to serve as a genetic bank of threatened reptile species and to conduct captive breeding projects of three specific Indian crocodile species—the marsh crocodile or “mugger”, the saltwater crocodile or “salty”, and the gharial. After breeding, these crocs were released into the wild, in order to repopulate their native habitats.
A happy bunch of reptile and wildlife lovers! From left to right: Arul (staff), me (Avan Antia), Vaishali (volunteer), Rom (MCBT co-founder), Anjana (staff), and Nik (MCBT curator).[/caption]
Throughout the years, the Croc Bank has served as a center for conservation, captive breeding, scientific research, education, and discovery. Currently, there are over 2,000 reptiles within these 8.8 acres of lush and diverse greenery. There are 17 species of crocodilians (crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials) in addition to various chelonians (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins), komodo dragons, iguanas, monitors, and snakes.
[caption id="attachment_82058" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
“Jaws III”, a 17-foot-long Saltwater crocodile, smiles wide for the camera![/caption]
Importantly though, the Croc Bank is not just a typical zoo. Though it does serve as a collection of captive animals for public education, much of the Croc Bank’s work is done in the field. There are two permanent field stations in the Agumbe Rainforest and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and various other projects around India. Research at the Croc Bank has produced about 300 publications. These include studies on reptile biology and behavior, veterinary science, capture techniques, and much more. The Croc Bank also has a co-op with the Irula tribe, who are known for their expert snake-catching ability, to conduct snake venom extractions. This venom is then sent to laboratories to produce antivenom used for snakebite treatment in India.
So what exactly am I doing here? Wresting crocodiles? Charming snakes?
Unfortunately (or fortunately), no. I’m actually working to formulate a solid waste management strategy for the Croc Bank. With over 2,000 reptiles, the Croc Bank rakes up loads (literally) of feces, in addition to leaf litter, and other organic waste. This is all deposited into a behemoth of a compost pile and left to decompose over time. What is produced after many months is a beautiful, earthy compost, rich in nitrogen and phosphorous.
In addition, an average of 22,300 visitors pass through the park per month. Hence, it accumulates a lot of non-biodegradable waste, especially plastic bottles. The Croc Bank currently segregates and stores this, but needs a way to dispose of it in a “green” manner.
On a larger scale, waste management is a problem with which India has constantly struggled. In urban India alone, the total municipal solid waste generated is about 188,500 tons per day! Compounding that fact, trash collection systems inefficient, so many people dump trash on the streets or in open spaces. In the end, we leave over 91 % of the trash we collect in a landfill. That is only the tip of the iceberg.
Luckily, there are various waste management options, such as “waste to energy,” composting, and biogas production. We will explore all these possibilities for the most practical and eco-friendly waste management plan at the Croc Bank! In addition, we will educate the younger generation on the importance of “being green” by visiting schools in the area.
Thus, I will work here at the crossroads between science, environmental conservation, waste management, and education.
Find out more about the Croc Bank and how you can contribute to the project on the 
Mohan stepping into the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Leopard jumping into the trapping cage[/caption]
Rose shortly after her rescue[/caption]
Rhea coming out of the elephant ambulance at the WSOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Wildlife SOS staff cares for hog deer fawn[/caption]
A Spotted Black Turtle rescued from the poacher’s net in Agra[/caption]
Nilgai resting under a tree near Parliament House[/caption]
Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued from Dal Lake[/caption]
Injured hyena rescued from a violent mob in Agra[/caption]
Leopard rescued from a house[/caption]
Dusky Eagle Owl rescued from poachers[/caption]
A Wildlife SOS veterinarian treating monitor lizards[/caption]
Leopard trapped inside a 30-foot-deep well[/caption]
Rescued Barn Owl fledglings[/caption]
Wildlife SOS treating the sloth bear[/caption]
Wildlife SOS works with rural and urban communities to spread awareness about the plight of wildlife in India. It also tries to evoke a sense of compassion within the local communities, especially among the young generations. This gives them a more sensitized understanding of the environment and inspires people to actively protect our natural heritage.
Help Wildlife SOS rescue animals as a volunteer. Find out more 
Nirmal Kulkarni[/caption]
Indian rock python[/caption]
In the meanwhile, Nirmal and his team are reaching out to several wildlife enthusiasts, NGOs working in the wildlife conservation space, state forest departments as well as educational institutions. He is also looking at tapping into the network of snake rescuers to help in the process of awareness creation.The initiative is employing different methods like on-field discussions, informative presentations and seminars as well as engagements with communities, youth, and Forest Department personnel.
While raising the funding required for an initiative on such a huge scale is one of the biggest challenges facing Nirmal, another problem along the way is following the timeline.
Rescued elephant Bijli out on a walk with her keeper at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura.[/caption]
Previously, in its initial stages, the organisation came up with new ideas that were as effective as possible to fulfil the specific needs of each of their jumbos, especially the elderly, arthritic, and afflicted.
In the wild, elephants inhabit tropical evergreen forests, grasslands, and scrub forests. The females and their young tend to live together in a herd and are led by an individual matriarch. These herds follow a movement pattern based on seasonal and climatic changes. Unlike captive elephants that are forced into a life of illegal and commercial exploitation under deprived conditions, wild elephants in their prime are healthy and fit and less susceptible to changes in weather conditions, and mainly suffer from ailments caused by natural circumstances. Moreover, the average lifespan of an elephant in the wild is much shorter than their captive counterparts—rarely beyond 50 years.
The Elephant Conservation & Care Center is currently home to 20 rescued elephants who are blind, lame, and on the mend. The organisation also runs an Elephant Rehabilitation Centre in Haryana which currently houses three female elephants.
Former begging elephant Bijli before and after her rescue[/caption]
Today, under the care and treatment of a dedicated team of veterinarians and the elephant care staff of Wildlife SOS, these majestic creatures are adjusting to a life of dignity, freedom, and peace in a place where they can spend their days happily, with frequent baths, a nutritious diet, and good veterinary care.
The idea for the jumbo jackets slowly evolved after the NGO started making blankets for their elephants. Wildlife SOS co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan stated that it is important to keep the elephants protected from the bitter cold during the extreme winter season, as they are weak and vulnerable, having suffered so much abuse over the years, making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia and joint pains.
As part of the Wildlife SOS tribal rehabilitation programme, the organisation carries out initiatives to empower women from the Kalandar community that formerly exploited wild bears for their livelihoods, and encouraging them to take up skill training in weaving, tailoring, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, etc. as a source of alternative livelihood.
Women of the Kalandar community knitting woollen jumpers for the elephants.[/caption]
Some of the older elephants took to their new winter garb almost immediately. However, the younger elephants treated the jumpers as toys, and started playfully pulling at the ends of the knitted jumpers. So far, the jumbo jackets proved to be most effective for the older pachyderms. The warm fleece on the inside keeps the pachyderms snug and isn’t rough or uncomfortable on their skin. Stitched on top, the tarp material acts as a windcheater, keeping away chilly night breezes and cold dew or drizzle. The entire garb is then strapped on to hold it comfortably in place.
Asha wearing her fleece jumbo jacket[/caption]
If you would like to spread the warmth and help these lovely pachyderms, please click 
Wildlife SOS and the Forest Department team carrying out the rescue operation.[/caption]
The Wildlife SOS team operating out of the Leopard Rescue Center in Junnar responded immediately by dispatching a rapid rescue team to the location. Forest department personnel Mr. Sanjay Gaikwad also reached the location, along with the NGO’s senior veterinarian Dr. Ajay Deshmukh.
The two leopard cubs, identified as a male and a female, were estimated to be about 21 days old. They were scared and yearning for their mother’s presence. After conducting a meticulous veterinary clinical examination for parasites and injuries, the officials found the cubs in good health and fit for release.
The challenge now was to reunite these helpless cubs back with their aggrieved mother, who was reportedly lurking around the village in search of her missing cubs. The team carefully placed the two cubs in a safe box and placed this in the field where they last saw the leopard.
Officials placing the cubs in a safe box near where they last saw the female leopard.[/caption]
Over the years, the organisation has successfully reunited over 40 lost, injured, or separated leopard cubs. However, this was Wildlife SOS and the Forest Department’s first rescue operation on-tape.
After a long wait, the female leopard called for the cubs. Cautiously emerging from the forest, she slowly walked to the safe box from which she could hear her cubs mewling. Removing the cover of the box in a swift motion, she checked her cubs by caressing each with her muzzle.
The female leopard finally unites with her cubs.[/caption]
Wildlife SOS makes every effort to make such rescue and reunion operations possible. It is crucial for leopard cubs to grow up with their mothers. They learn survival skills such as stalking, hunting, and locating their prey from their mothers in their first 18 months. The organisation likes to ensure that these leopards don’t end up in captivity. These animals get a chance to return to the wild, where they can live freely in their natural habitat.
Find out how you can contribute to helping Wildlife SOS save India’s wildlife on the 
Harumi Sugimatsu and Rajendar Bahl
Elephants at Bandipur National park. Image source: 
