Rescues From The Helpline — June 2025

While summer temperatures soared across India, Wildlife SOS navigated diverse terrains to rescue animals caught in challenges specific to urban areas. For our Rapid Response Units, every day brings proof that small acts of awareness and compassion can bridge the widening gap between humans and the wild as they come closer to each other. In June, our teams across four significant locations once again stood as a lifeline for animals in various situations of distress. They braved sweltering heat, unexpected rains, and unpredictable encounters with unwavering resolve.

Every rescue this month told a story of perseverance, of survival, and of a shared responsibility to safeguard India’s natural heritage.

Here are some of the most remarkable rescues and heartwarming second chances at life that unfolded this June.

Delhi-NCR

June’s pre-monsoon showers brought a surge of distress calls to the Wildlife SOS emergency helpline, but one rescue stood out. As the rain eased after a heavy shower over Lodhi Estate Road, a citizen heading over to his workplace spotted a drenched and disoriented Indian grey hornbill that was surrounded by a mob of crows. He quickly stepped in to shield the bird and contacted the Wildlife SOS helpline. Within minutes, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit arrived and carefully rescued the hornbill, transporting it to the nearest transit facility. Under close veterinary observation, the bird was monitored for internal injuries and shock.

Between such intermittent downpours was blistering heat that didn’t spare birds from being affected by spells of dehydration, leading our team to save 135 birds from the capital city during the month.

Each act of compassion and courage by alert and concerned people echoes far beyond the rescue. In June, our Delhi-NCR Rapid Response Unit attended to 204 rescue calls, assisting 33 mammals and 36 reptiles as well. Urban wildlife may be hidden in plain sight, but when citizens and conservationists work together, even a city as bustling as Delhi becomes a safer place for them all.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

In Agra and surrounding areas, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit remained on high alert through the peak summer weeks, answering a surge of calls from concerned citizens. From schools and gardens to housing societies and public offices, wild animals found themselves in unfamiliar territory, often seeking shelter from the heat or heavy rains. This month saw the rescue of 52 reptiles, including cobras, rat snakes, wolf snakes, and monitor lizards, from locations such as Fatehpur Sikri, Sikandra, Shastripuram, and NH2. In one case, a spectacled cobra was found in the premises of a school, prompting a swift and cautious response from the team. Monitor lizards were rescued from school grounds, residential estates, and even from under piles of bricks, each incident handled with care and expertise.

Across June, the Agra unit successfully rescued 28 mammals and 34 birds as well, ensuring their safe release into suitable natural habitats.

Vadodara, Gujarat

The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit in Vadodara continued to respond to a steady flow of wildlife rescue calls in June, particularly for reptiles and birds, a pattern that reflects the seasonal rise in human-wildlife encounters as these animals seek food, mates and cooler refuge. Two incidents this month stood out for the public response and urgency involved. In one case, a three-foot-long monitor lizard was discovered sheltering beneath a pile of cardboard in a commercial unit in the GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation) area. In the other, a venomous common krait had entered a residential neighbourhood, prompting swift action from our team. In both cases, the reptiles were safely rescued and relocated to suitable natural habitats.

Reptile rescues went up to 47, and underscored the importance of awareness and preparedness needed during the hotter months. In total, the Vadodara team rescued 114 animals in June, including 14 mammals and 31 birds.

Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)

June saw a notable rise in snake-related rescue calls for our Rapid Response Unit in J&K, with 24 animals, including a whopping number of 21 snakes rescued from locations across Srinagar and its surrounding areas. In the Dachigam catchment area, a midnight rescue was carried out after a Himalayan trinket snake entered a VIP hut sheltering state officers. At a hotel in the city, a rat snake was discovered in a storeroom but was wrongly identified as a cobra, causing alarm among guests. Another rat snake had slithered into a residential home on the outskirts of Srinagar, prompting an evacuation before the snake was safely removed. Meanwhile, at a home on the ground floor near Dachigam, a Levantine viper was found resting beneath the balcony, and the venomous snake was safely rescued by our team. Apart from reptiles, the team also saved and provided aid to three black kites during the month. These rescues serve as important reminders that awareness, caution, and rapid response are key to ensuring the safety of both people and wildlife in areas where habitats and human settlements increasingly overlap.

As the mercury rose across India this June, so did the urgency to protect the wildlife quietly sharing our cities, towns, and farmlands. Every call answered, every animal guided back to safety, and every citizen who chose compassion over fear became part of a larger, hopeful story, one where coexistence is not just an idea, but a daily act of courage and care.

If you come across an animal in distress, don’t turn away. Reach out to Wildlife SOS’s 24-hour emergency rescue helpline, available in four regions, and become part of a life-saving tale:

Delhi-NCR – +91-9871963535

Agra & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – +91-9917109666

Vadodara, Gujarat – +91-9825011117

Jammu & Kashmir – +91-7006692300 / +91-9419778280

Feature image: Wildlife SOS