The new year brought with it a biting cold across northern India, but Wildlife SOS teams were out in full force, responding to distress calls round the clock. From serpents surfacing in residential neighbourhoods to raptors and birds grounded, January had our Rapid Response Units from Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir remained on the move to address unexpected sightings of wildlife within human localities.
In a timely and coordinated rescue effort, an adult male sambar deer was safely extracted after being found trapped in a water body in Junnar, Maharashtra. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Rescues were conducted from locations such as rooftops, construction sites, fields, ponds and urban structures. Each rescue not only prevented potential human-wildlife conflict, but also ensured timely medical care and safe relocation for the animals involved. Let’s look at some of the most noteworthy animal rescues that happened across January 2026.
Delhi NCR
Wildlife SOS’s Delhi NCR team fielded calls from across the capital and its outskirts concerning a total of 145 animals, including 15 reptiles, 94 birds, and 36 mammals.
Among the reptiles rescued were several snakes including 5 common cobras and 2 Indian rock pythons. As many as 36 pigeons, 24 kites and 17 barn owls were saved, other species including crows, peacocks, and a parrot. 21 Rhesus macaques, along with squirrels, jackals, nilgai, bats, civet cats, and a porcupine also entered the list of mammal rescues made.
One of January’s most striking rescues from the Delhi region involved a 12-foot Indian rock python recovered from an under-construction site in Greater Noida. Workers at the site encountered the massive serpent coiled among the debris, and immediately alerted Wildlife SOS. The rescue team carefully secured the python, conducted a health check, and released it back into a safe natural habitat. Indian rock python is a large constrictor that is non-venomous, and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. Sightings of this species are on the rise, especially around urban areas close to forest lands, as construction activity barges into their territory.
Rescuers carefully handled a massive Indian rock python during a challenging extraction from an under-construction site in Greater Noida. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Earlier in the month, a young barn owl, estimated to be as young as 5-7 months old, was rescued near the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi. The bird was found struggling on the ground, as it was unable to fly due to weak flight muscles and mild shock from repeated failed attempts. Barn owls are among the most ecologically valuable birds in India, naturally controlling rodent populations, yet, they are frequently injured by vehicles, glass panels, or deliberate interference. The owl was transferred to the Wildlife SOS Transit Facility for further monitoring and care. After regular examination and care given, the owl was declared fit and it was safely released.
Disoriented and unable to fly, this young barn owl was discovered as a weak bird near the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Agra & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
The Rapid Response Unit in Uttar Pradesh (UP) responded to 74 rescues — 38 mammals, 23 birds and 13 reptiles — in the month of January, living up to their reputation of being Wildlife SOS’s most active operational zones. The team made landmark rescues in 2025, saving over 1300 animals from the Agra-Mathura belt that included more than 600 reptiles.
A highlight rescue of January and arguably the most dramatic operation was the recovery of a female leopard from Hapur after her left forelimb was caught in a jaw trap set in a mustard field. In a joint 4-hour operation with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, the 8-member Wildlife SOS team, led by veterinary officer Dr. Rahul Prasad, reached the site. They freed the animal, provided immediate on-site treatment and kept her under observation for nearly 24 hours. When she was found to be medically fit, the leopard successfully released into the Badkala forest range in the Shivalik region.
After being freed from a deadly trap, the female leopard was kept under close veterinary observation and treatment before being declared fit for release back into the wild. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
In a separate operation, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit in Agra collaborated with the UP Forest Department for the successful rescue and relocation of a mugger crocodile in Etah. The operation lasted over 5 hours as rescuers worked to safely trap the reptile that had strayed out of a pond and into a village area. The mugger was then medically examined by the veterinary team and, once declared fit, was released into a suitable natural water body away from the village.
Straying into a human-dominated landscape, this mugger crocodile triggered a careful rescue operation led by Wildlife SOS that included preventing potential conflict. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
Wildlife SOS’s J&K team, which operates in one of the country’s most ecologically rich and climatically challenging terrains, responded to the rescue calls concerning 5 birds in January. Winter months are particularly challenging for raptors in the region, with injuries often linked to collisions with buildings or vehicles, entanglements with power lines due to low visibility, or weakened physical condition.
Several injured black kites were rescued by Wildlife SOS teams during the month, highlighting the vulnerability of urban raptors to injuries and collisions in densely populated areas. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Three black kites were rescued during the month, a species commonly affected by manjha, the glass-coated nylon string of a kite that is flown. The sharp and barely visible strings cause grievous injuries to avians. A barn owl was also brought to safety, alongside a steppe eagle, a large migratory raptor that moves across the Indian subcontinent, including parts of J&K. Steppe eagles are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, making each individual’s survival significant for the species.
The birds were found in distress and carefully examined, stabilised, and either rehabilitated or transferred for further veterinary supervision as required.
Vadodara, Gujarat
The Vadodara Rapid Response Unit, operating in collaboration with the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), recorded 102 rescues in January, maintaining the vigilance they are known for.
Reptile rescues took a fair portion of the rescue operations, with 22 snakes, including 7 venomous species and 15 non-venomous snakes, rescued. Vadodara frequently reports snake sightings in residential neighbourhoods, gardens and construction sites, making swift intervention essential for both public safety and the protection of these serpents. A rescue operation was also conducted for a monitor lizard, a reptile species that is often feared but plays an important ecological role in controlling pest populations.
Rescuers safely secured a monitor lizard found straying into a human-dominated area, ensuring the reptile was handled with care before being relocated to a suitable habitat away from potential conflict. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
Bird rescues accounted for the major share of cases, with 60 birds safely assisted by the team. Among these were raptors such as owls, as well as parrots and other urban bird species that required rescue due to injuries or displacement from their habitats.
The team also responded to several mammal-related calls, rescuing 3 monkeys, 1 squirrel and 10 cats.
This barn owl was carefully handled by the Wildlife SOS team after being rescued from an urban setting. The bird was secured for assessment and further rehabilitation. [Photo © Wildlife SOS]
In addition to rescue operations, the Vadodara team also conducted an awareness programme during the month, reinforcing the importance of coexistence with wildlife. The team educated local communities about how to respond safely when encountering wildlife. Since public awareness initiatives remain an essential part of Wildlife SOS’s mission, it helps minimise fear and promote responsible reporting of wildlife in human establishments.
Wildlife SOS continues to operate 24×7 emergency rescue helplines across regions, responding to hundreds of calls each month with speed, expertise, and compassion.
If you encounter a wild animal in distress, contact our rescue teams immediately:
Delhi NCR – +91-9871963535
Agra & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – +91-9917109666
Vadodara, Gujarat – +91-9825011117
Jammu & Kashmir – +91-7006692300, +91-9419778280
Timely reporting saves lives, both human and wild.
[Infographic © Wildlife SOS]
Feature image: Kunal Malhotra/ Wildlife SOS
