Wildlife SOS
Wildlife SOS is an India-based nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and provides lifelong sanctuary for elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and other wildlife across 12 rescue centres in partnership with 13 state governments, supported by global donations, sponsorships, and travel experiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wildlife SOS does
Wildlife SOS is a nonprofit wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation organisation headquartered in New Delhi, India, founded in 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani. It operates 12 dedicated wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres across India and holds formal cooperative agreements with state forest departments in 13 states. Its portfolio spans the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura — which includes India's first and only dedicated Elephant Hospital (est. 2018) with wireless digital radiology, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, and protected-contact restraint systems — six bear rescue facilities (Agra, Bannerghatta, Van Vihar, West Bengal, Dachigam, Pahalgam), the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar (operated with the Maharashtra Forest Department), and a 24x7 Rapid Response Unit. The organisation currently cares for approximately 30 elephants, over 150 sloth bears, and over 45 leopards in long-term sanctuary, and has cumulatively rescued more than 620 dancing bears (ending the practice in India by 2009), more than 100 leopards, and rescued tiger Gopal under joint management with the Born Free Foundation.
Wildlife SOS's technology stack is operational rather than digital-product: dedicated elephant ambulances, drones and camera traps for habitat research, an in-house pathology lab, and digital veterinary infrastructure. Its scientific output includes 50+ peer-reviewed publications and five research compendiums. The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual giving through India, USA, and UK donation portals (credit card, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, stock, IRA, donor-advised funds), the Wall of Dreams sponsorship programme (Bronze $150 through Platinum $5,000, plus naming rights), e-commerce merchandise stores in India (Amazon) and USA (Fourwall), VIP travel experiences including the Founders' Trip and the January-February 2027 Incredible India Adventure, planned giving via FreeWill and Farewill, Givergy auctions, and SmugMug photo sales. The organisation reaches supporters through conservation education tours, a structured volunteer programme, an Elephant Tails podcast, petition campaigns, and a celebrity ambassador network including Alia Bhatt, Paul O'Grady MBE, Pharrell Williams, Disha Patani, and Lesley Nicol.
Wildlife SOS serves a hybrid stakeholder set rather than paying customers. Its primary operational counterparties are state forest departments across 13 Indian states; its conservation programmes target both wildlife (elephants, sloth bears, leopards, tigers, reptiles, primates) and the indigenous Kalandar communities formerly dependent on the dancing bear trade, who are transitioned to alternative livelihoods through the Tribal Rehabilitation Programme. International operations are coordinated through Wildlife SOS USA (501(c)(3), Salt Lake City) and Wildlife SOS UK (registered charity, launched 2009), enabling tax-deductible giving and global fundraising infrastructure. The organisation holds no patents, trademarks, or parent-company ownership, and its operations are governed by an India Board (chaired by Onita Nakra) and a separate USA Board of Directors.
Wildlife SOS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wildlife SOS
- Legal name
- Wildlife SOS
- Website
- https://wildlifesos.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Wildlife SOS is an India-based nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and provides lifelong sanctuary for elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and other wildlife across 12 rescue centres in partnership with 13 state governments, supported by global donations, sponsorships, and travel experiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wildlife SOS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)
Keywords
Where Wildlife SOS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices12 records
Markets served
Wildlife SOS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations & Contributions: Wildlife SOS receives online donations from individuals globally through its India and USA donation portals. Donors can give via credit card, bank transfer, and cryptocurrency. The majority of volunteer programme fees go directly to the centre as funding.
- Wall of Dreams Sponsorship Plaques: Donors can purchase plaques on the Wall of Dreams at the Elephant Hospital Treatment Unit at sponsorship levels: Bronze ($150/Rs 12,300), Silver ($500/Rs 41,000), Gold ($1,000/Rs 82,000), and Platinum ($5,000/Rs 4,10,000). Naming opportunities for rooms and observation areas are also available for larger gifts.
- E-commerce & Retail: Wildlife SOS operates India and USA merchandise stores on Amazon.in and a dedicated four-wall e-commerce site. Auction items and photo prints are also sold through givergy.com/WildlifeSOS2025 and smugmug.com.
- Travel Experiences & Conservation Tourism: The organisation offers VIP travel experiences including the Founders' Trip (exclusive tours of India with co-founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani) and the Incredible India Adventure (January–February 2027). Fees from these trips fund conservation work.
- Planned Giving & Legacy Gifts: Wildlife SOS USA and UK encourage supporters to include the organisation in their wills and estate plans through FreeWill (USA) and Farewill (UK), generating long-term philanthropic revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | Bronze Sponsorship — Wall of Dreams plaque |
| Other | One time | Silver Sponsorship — Wall of Dreams plaque |
| Other | One time | Gold Sponsorship — Wall of Dreams plaque |
| Other | One time | Platinum Sponsorship — Wall of Dreams plaque |
| Other | One time | Volunteer Programme Fees |
| Other | One time | Incredible India Adventure Trip |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Wildlife SOS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wildlife SOS operates 12 wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres across India, providing lifelong care for elephants, sloth bears, leopards, tigers, and other wildlife rescued from abuse, conflict, and exploitation. The organization runs India's first dedicated Elephant Hospital, multiple bear rescue facilities, and a 24x7 Rapid Response Unit, supported by community rehabilitation, anti-poaching (Forest Watch), and conservation education programmes funded through donations, sponsorships, and travel experiences.
Product overview
Wildlife SOS is a wildlife rescue and conservation organization operating 12 wildlife rescue centres across India. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation. Core offerings include the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, India's first Elephant Hospital, six Bear Rescue Facilities, and the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre. Supporting services include a 24x7 Rapid Response Unit, Training and Awareness Programs, Conservation Projects (Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation, Anti-Poaching, Open Wells Conservation), Tribal Rehabilitation Programme, and Research & Publications. Engagement offerings comprise the Elephant Tails Podcast, Wall of Dreams sponsorship program, Planned Giving/Legacy programs, Volunteer Programs, and VIP Travel Experiences. The organization also operates an Elephant Ambulance for rescue operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) A sanctuary near Mathura providing lifelong care for elephants rescued from abusive conditions in tourism, begging, and entertainment industries, offering comprehensive rehabilitation including medical treatment, proper nutrition, and emotional healing.
- Elephant Hospital (Treatment Unit at ECCC) India's first and only dedicated elephant hospital providing advanced medical care including wireless digital radiology, laser therapy, in-house pathology lab, medical hoist, hydrotherapy pool, and quarantine enclosures for crippled, handicapped, sick, or geriatric elephants.
- Ch. Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre A facility dedicated to the long-term rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants as part of Wildlife SOS's comprehensive elephant welfare programme.
- Bear Rescue Facilities Six bear rescue centres across India (Agra Bear Rescue Facility, Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre, Van Vihar Bear Rescue Facility, West Bengal Bear Rescue Centre, Dachigam Rescue Centre, Pahalgam Rescue Centre) providing lifelong sanctuary for sloth bears, Asiatic black bears, and brown bears rescued from the 'dancing' bear trade, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
- Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre A leopard sanctuary in Junnar, Pune caring for over 30 leopards with permanent and debilitating injuries making them unfit for release back into the wild, operated in partnership with the Maharashtra Forest Department. Has rescued over 100 leopards and reunited more than 112 cubs since 2018.
- Rapid Response Unit A 24x7 emergency response service with dedicated hotlines across multiple Indian states, attending to distress calls about wild animals in peril or caught in conflict situations and rescuing various species from urban and rural environments.
- Elephant Ambulance Service A dedicated mobile rescue unit for transporting injured, sick, or abused elephants over long distances to Wildlife SOS care centres for treatment and rehabilitation.
- Volunteer Programme Programme allowing volunteers to contribute to bear and elephant welfare at Wildlife SOS rescue facilities, with duties including food preparation, enclosure cleaning, enrichment construction, and animal observation. The majority of volunteer programme fees go directly to the centre as critical funding.
- Founders' Trip / VIP Travel Experience Exclusive travel experiences accompanying Wildlife SOS co-founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, offering behind-the-scenes access to sanctuaries, elephant centres, and cultural destinations. Includes the Founders' Trip and the Incredible India Adventure (January–February 2027). Fees from these trips fund conservation work.
- Wall of Dreams Sponsorship Programme A sponsorship programme allowing donors to contribute to elephant rescue and care with plaque recognition at the Elephant Hospital Treatment Unit. Sponsorship levels include Bronze ($150 / Rs 12,300), Silver ($500 / Rs 41,000), Gold ($1,000 / Rs 82,000), and Platinum ($5,000 / Rs 4,10,000). Naming opportunities for rooms and observation areas are available for larger gifts.
- Animal Sponsorship Programme Programmes allowing supporters to sponsor individual animals (Sponsor An Animal) or support children's education (Sponsor A Child) through recurring contributions to Wildlife SOS.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Programme Estate planning and legacy giving programmes for supporters in the USA and UK, including free will writing tools through FreeWill (USA) and Farewill (UK) partnerships to generate long-term philanthropic revenue.
- Elephant Memorial India's first elephant memorial commemorating elephants who lost their lives after suffering at the hands of humanity, honoring their sacrifice and healing journeys.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 620 dancing bears rescued and the practice ended in India since 1995
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wildlife SOS
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wildlife SOS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Wildlife SOS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Wildlife Conservation Society / Various International UniversitiesminorWildlife SOS works with national and international universities and organisations on ex-situ research in veterinary areas, behavioural studies, reproductive physiology, and other conservation science fields. Also partners on the IUCN Sloth Bear Expert Team.
- International Animal RescuecoreInternational partner organisation supporting Wildlife SOS's Dancing Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Project. Collaborated in rescuing and rehabilitating over 620 dancing bears across India and providing lifelong care at four large natural sanctuaries.
- One Voice Association (France)coreFrench animal welfare organisation partnering with Wildlife SOS on the Dancing Bear Rescue Project, contributing to rescue operations and sanctuary funding for sloth bears rescued from the brutal dancing bear trade.
- Free The Bears (Australia)coreAustralian bear conservation charity supporting Wildlife SOS's bear rescue and rehabilitation efforts, particularly the Dancing Bear Project and long-term care of sloth bears at Wildlife SOS sanctuaries.
- Humane Society International (Australia)coreInternational arm of Humane Society International supporting Wildlife SOS's bear rescue and conservation projects, including the eradication of the dancing bear practice in India.
- Maharashtra Forest DepartmentcoreLong-term operational partner for the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, Pune district. The department coordinates with Wildlife SOS for joint leopard rescue operations, including nocturnal rescues from open wells and human-wildlife conflict situations across Maharashtra.
- Born Free FoundationcoreUK-based wildlife charity co-managing the Bannerghatta Tiger Sanctuary tiger enclosure with Wildlife SOS. Rescued tiger Gopal resides at this facility. Active collaborator in tiger conservation and welfare efforts.
- State Forest Departments (13 Indian States)coreWildlife SOS has formal co-operative agreements in place with state governments and forest departments across 13 states of India for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, anti-poaching operations (Forest Watch programme), and conservation projects including the Open Wells Conservation Project to prevent leopard falls.
- XmissionminorWebsite hosting donated by Xmission, a technology infrastructure provider supporting Wildlife SOS's digital operations.
- Government of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)coreWildlife SOS works with the Indian government's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as well as bodies including the Animal Welfare Board of India, Central Zoo Authority, and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. Co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan serves on multiple government advisory bodies.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wildlife SOS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wildlife SOS social profiles
Digital presenceWildlife SOS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wildlife SOS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Wildlife SOS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wildlife SOS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wildlife SOS
What does Wildlife SOS do?
Wildlife SOS operates 12 wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres across India, providing lifelong care for elephants, sloth bears, leopards, tigers, and other wildlife rescued from abuse, conflict, and exploitation. The organization runs India's first dedicated Elephant Hospital, multiple bear rescue facilities, and a 24x7 Rapid Response Unit, supported by community rehabilitation, anti-poaching (Forest Watch), and conservation education programmes funded through donations, sponsorships, and travel experiences.
Is Wildlife SOS a public or private company?
Wildlife SOS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wildlife SOS founded?
Wildlife SOS was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Wildlife SOS based?
Wildlife SOS is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Wildlife SOS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations & Contributions are the primary driver. The others are wall of Dreams Sponsorship Plaques, E-commerce & Retail, travel Experiences & Conservation Tourism and planned Giving & Legacy Gifts.
Does Wildlife SOS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wildlife SOS.
What industry is Wildlife SOS in?
Wildlife SOS's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAH, Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic). Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.