As the summer sun softened and a gentle breeze wandered through Uttar Pradesh, a bright personality made a wonderful appearance at our centres, bringing with her the magic of words. Sainee Raj, poet, writer and film actor, arrived at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) on August 12, 2025 to celebrate World Elephant Day with rescued elephants and their caregiving team. At ECCC, Sainee was greeted by the famous sisterhood of Emma, Maya and Phoolkali, and she instantly fell in love with them! This made for the perfect way to welcome Sainee Raj for her four-day trip to our elephant and sloth bear centres in Agra and Mathura.
Sainee Raj learned about the harsh reality of captive elephants through the story of Manu, a recently rescued pachyderm. Manu had endured struggles and hardships of being a ‘begging’ elephant, shedding light on how neglected elephants are kept in captivity. This deeply moved Sainee, and inspired her to support our cause of rescuing and rehabilitating India’s distressed elephants.
Understanding their cruel past and watching them walk in a safe environment, Sainee deeply immersed herself while seeing the elephants, absorbing the calmness, grace, and intelligence that radiate in every step, every rumble, every subtle gesture they make. She watched how a friendly herd moves together, the trust they’ve built with each other as well as their kind caregivers, and even after immense hardship they had experienced in their past, these majestic beings were carrying themselves with quiet strength.
The second day of Sainee’s visit included a tour of the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF), where she learned about the ‘dancing’ bear tradition that was common as street entertainment in India. This cruel practice was put to a stop due to the tireless work Wildlife SOS carried out under the guidance of its co-founders.
Sainee watched the rehabilitated bears closely, and their playful moments revealed their personalities. For instance, Mowgli has an active nature that helped Mandro to quietly sneak away a treat when he wasn’t looking! This made for a memorable episode that Sainee would always joyfully recall.
On the third day, Sainee finally met Manu at the Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC) — whose story had inspired her to come all the way to Mathura. She noticed his quiet moments, the subtle enjoyment of a simple treat, and understood that resilience often resides in patience, perseverance, and trust — all of which were evident in the graceful mannerisms of this elephant.
On the fourth day, Sainee spent some time in quiet reflection, writing in the gentle presence of the elephants. She accompanied them for a walk in the evening, making notes of every little detail: the way Phoolkali guided Maya with soft taps of her trunk, and how Maya’s curiosity led her on mini adventures of exploring a tree or sniffing a patch of grass. Every movement and interaction told a story of the strong and affectionate bond the elephants share, and revealed the simple rhythm of their lives. For Sainee, it was a moment of connection and inspiration.
At the end of her visit, Sainee shared with us a beautiful poem and a heartfelt video diary that captured the essence of her four days at our centres. These expressions of her journey highlighted how the experience deepened her understanding of compassion and the transformative power of care. It was a touching conclusion to a visit filled with reflection and learning.
The Guest List Carries On!
The month of September was made special by the visit of Indian actor and a long-time Wildlife SOS supporter, Ashmit Patel. Ashmit spoke about our ongoing campaign Refuse to Ride that raises awareness about the cruelty behind riding elephants at tourist and temple sites. These elephants undergo years of abuse, harsh training, and they live in poor conditions. Moreover, carrying heavy loads result in fragile spines, and walking on tarmac leaves them with adverse injuries.
Wildlife SOS also had the honour of hosting Miss Universe Great Britain 2025, Danielle Latimer, along with Luissa Burton (First Runner-up, Miss Universe Great Britain 2025), Helena Hawke (Miss Wales 2025), Sophie Wallace (Miss International UK 2025), Ava Morgan (Miss Great Britain 2024), and Abigail Wood (Miss Earth Wales 2025) at our Elephant Conservation and Care Centre and Elephant Hospital Campus in Mathura.
The group witnessed the dedication of our veterinary and caregiving teams, who work tirelessly to make sure that every elephant is given the needs, requirements and dignity that they deserve. Their visit shone a light on the power of compassion and global solidarity in protecting India’s heritage animal, inspiring many to stand up for the welfare of elephants.
Visits like these remind us how concern and empathy for wildlife can have ripple effects far beyond our centres. When artists, public figures, and changemakers take the time to experience the lives of rescued elephants and bears, they help amplify stories of hope, resilience, and coexistence. Each visit becomes an opportunity to spark meaningful conversations about wildlife conservation and inspire others to take a stand against cruelty. If you’d like to visit our centres or learn more about volunteering opportunities, write to us at visit@wildlifesos.org or volunteer@wildlifesos.org.
