When animals are stuck in distress, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Units are always ready to respond to their call of duty. The month of August kept our teams busy with several rescue operations, including that of a monitor lizard inside a metro station, a one-month-old leopard cub, and a baby crocodile among others due to monsoon floods.
Here’s how the month of August 2025 was for the rescue team.
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Wildlife SOS carried out 137 rescues in Agra that included 24 mammals, 21 birds, and a whopping number of 92 reptiles.
However, the biggest highlight was a successful joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to reunite a one-month-old leopard cub with its mother. Found alone in the Bah forest range of Agra, the cub was brought into the Wildlife SOS Transit Facility for care. The very same evening, the cub was placed back in the forest where it was found, and soon, the mother arrived to take her cub to safety — a heartening reminder of how collaboration and quick action can make a life-saving difference.
Another significant case was the rescue of a 5-feet-long mugger crocodile from a village pond in Etah district. Stunned after spotting it, locals quickly informed the forest department, which sought professional assistance from Wildlife SOS. Once safely secured, the reptile was examined and declared fit, and was then released into the Chambal River.
Delhi NCR
In the national capital, our Rapid Response Unit managed 171 rescues, of which 94 were avians and 44 included reptiles. Venomous snakes like cobras and kraits, along with non-venomous species such as rat snakes, wolf snakes, and pythons, were among those saved.
Imagine waking up to just another day and finding an infant Asian palm civet with its mother inside your home. The residents of Greater Kailash-II, a South Delhi colony, experienced exactly this. Both animals were carefully rescued by the team and, after a brief observation period, were safely released back into the wild.
Urbanisation has already reduced natural habitats, forcing wild animals to navigate city spaces that once belonged to them, and when heavy floods hit during monsoons, the situation worsens, driving reptiles to seek drier areas that lead them to human-dominated areas. One such incident occurred at Mayur Vihar-1 Metro Station, where a monitor lizard was spotted in the pantry area by station staff. The animal was promptly rescued, given a thorough health check, and safely released back into the wild.
Vadodara, Gujarat
In Vadodara, the Wildlife SOS-GSPCA (Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) team handled close to 100 rescues, which included snakes such as rat snakes, vipers, pythons, and Himalayan trinkets, and reptiles like monitor lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. Mammals included monkeys, dogs, and cats, while birds comprised peacocks, kites, and owls.
A particularly striking rescue took place in the early morning hours in Jalaram Nagar slum in Vadodara, where a family found an unexpected guest in their kitchen: a 1.5-foot-long baby crocodile! The family immediately alerted the Wildlife SOS emergency rescue helpline. A three-member Rapid Response Unit team from Wildlife SOS-GSPCA arrived to safely rescue the baby crocodile, which was handed over to the Gujarat Forest Department for further care and eventual release into its natural habitat.
Following this incident, the Wildlife SOS-GSPCA team carried out two more back-to-back crocodile rescues from areas near the Vishwamitri River, a known habitat for these reptiles. The first call came in from Mahakali Nagar in Manjalpur, where a 3.5-foot-long crocodile had wandered into the residential area from the nearby Vishwamitri River.
The second incident involved a 1-foot-long crocodile found in the servant quarters of the Rajmahal Palace in Vadodara. In both cases, the rescue team responded swiftly and professionally to safely extricate the reptiles, ensuring their well-being.
Jammu & Kashmir
In Jammu & Kashmir, Wildlife SOS attended to 20 rescues during August, including species unique to the Himalayan landscape. Among these were nine rat snakes, four Himalayan trinkets, two Levantine vipers, and two Ladakh cliff racers.
A particularly memorable case occurred in Srinagar, Kashmir, where a Ladakh cliff racer had taken refuge in a house while it rained. As soon as it was informed, the team promptly reached the residence to carefully extricate the snake. The non-venomous snake was checked for its health, and when found to be medically fit, was released into its natural environment.
Every month, Wildlife SOS receives hundreds of calls regarding distressed animals trapped in urban areas. Wildlife SOS operates 24×7 emergency rescue helplines in four regions:
- Delhi NCR: +91 9871963535
- Agra & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: +91 9917109666
- Vadodara, Gujarat: +91 9825011117
- Jammu & Kashmir: +91 700669230
Feature image: Wildlife SOS
