Written by: Neha Jaiswal
On a planet we all call home, protecting nature is a shared responsibility — and a shared hope. This World Environment Day, observed on June 5, 2025, Wildlife SOS joined the global movement to shine a light on one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution. Every choice we make leaves a lasting impact—on the planet, its people, and the wild lives we share it with.
In sync with this year’s global theme #BeatPlasticPollution, set by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Wildlife SOS urged people to rethink their plastic habits, share solutions on social media using the above hashtag, participate in local clean-up efforts, and use sustainable alternatives to replace plastic. This year’s theme aligned closely with Wildlife SOS’s mission to protect and preserve natural habitats impacted by human waste.
A Growing Crisis in Every Corner
According to a 2025 study tracking global plastic production from 1950 to 2023, the world has produced a staggering 400 million metric tonnes of plastic annually. This surge has deepened the crisis of waste, pollution, and environmental degradation. If left unsupervised at this rate, it is expected that the numbers may triple by 2060. And while the production rises, the plastic never truly goes away. Instead, it breaks into smaller particles known as microplastics, which enter our water, soil, food, and even the air we breathe — ultimately making their way into all living beings in one form or another. Alarmingly, scientists have even found microplastics in human bloodstreams and in the placentas of unborn babies, showing how deeply this crisis has spread. Microplastics are also harmful for plants as they negatively affect soil. Fish and amphibians and many aquatic species are exposed to microplastics as well that threaten them in waterways.
The rising tide of plastic pollution in India has become increasingly difficult to ignore. With an insufficient waste management system plastic waste poses a serious threat to our native biodiversity. From the treasured backwaters of Kerala to the dense forests of Uttarakhand and the vast coastline of Maharashtra, plastic waste has fast invaded our country’s uniquely diverse landscapes and its inhabitants. Rivers that once flowed freely are now burdened with plastic debris, while meadows, woodlands, and urban edges are steadily choked by non-biodegradable litter.
Saving Lives Beyond Rescue
Plastic pollution is one of the predominant environmental issues that directly threatens the survival of our precious flora and fauna and disrupts fragile ecosystems. It becomes a conservation crisis when plastic waste harms species’ health, restricts their movements, and puts already vulnerable populations at a greater risk. Recognising the importance of this matter, Wildlife SOS conducts events like clean-up drives and awareness sessions that invite participants to join in the efforts to secure the health of the environment.On World Environment Day this year, Wildlife SOS organised a series of impactful events that blended creativity, education, and hands-on participation. Here’s how we carried the message of conservation with meaningful action:
- Art meets Awareness at ECCC
Wildlife SOS hosted an art competition at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura, welcoming over 25 students aged between 10 and 14. Participants accompanied by their teachers came from Government Girls Inter College, Farah, Charkula Global Public School and Baldeo Public School in Mathura, and Suraj Govind School in Agra.
- Greening the Future Through Community Action
In Hyderabad, Wildlife SOS partnered with Wipro Cares to host a seed ball activity. A seed ball is a small ball made of soil, compost, and seeds, designed to be thrown onto barren land where it can grow into a plant without needing to be buried or watered immediately. These scattered seed balls sprout into trees that offer shade, fruits, and safe spaces for animals and insects. It’s a playful yet powerful way to revive nature, one seed at a time.
The activity focused on bringing back green spaces by exclusively planting native greenery that can flourish in their environment. Participants eagerly volunteered to shape earth with little balls of hope — a way of showing care for India’s greenery and the animals that depend on it.
- Sowing Seeds of Hope
Bangalore too got their hands “soiled” as the students of Greenwood High School joined Wildlife SOS for a day of hands-on learning about seed balls. The seed ball session was also followed by fun nature-based games that made environmental lessons come alive. Various students went home with saplings at the end of the day to grow in their balconies or gardens, nurturing a little patch of green in their everyday lives.
These hands-on activities helped students build deeper connections with nature, encouraging empathy and a sense of responsibility to care for the environment. They were quick to realise that it wasn’t just a ball of soil they held in their hands — it was a promise waiting to sprout. For many, it was their first step into the world of environmental stewardship.
- Joining Hands for a Cleaner Future
At the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF), situated inside Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, World Environment Day brought together officials from the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and students from nearby colleges for a joint cleanliness drive. Armed with gloves, garbage bags, and a lot of enthusiasm, the group worked together to clean not just the facility grounds, but the wider sanctuary area — removing litter and helping restore the beauty of this wildlife sanctuary.
This hands-on effort wasn’t just about picking up litter — it was about setting an example. The presence of forest officials alongside students showed how collaboration across generations and departments can spark real change. Institutions and youth together can turn awareness into impact.
From Words to Action
World Environment Day served as a reminder that real change begins with people willing to act. Whether it was school children and teachers or corporate partners, everyone contributed to the collective endeavour of conquering plastic pollution and bringing balance back to our ecosystems.At Wildlife SOS, conservation is more than rescue and rehabilitation of animals in distress — it’s about creating awareness, engaging communities, and inspiring action to ensure the protection of wildlife. This is why the organisation collaborates with several educational institutes, corporations and local communities to conduct interactive, knowledge oriented workshops and sessions. If you would like to join hands with us to support environment and conservation efforts, do reach out to us at info@wildlifesos.orgTogether, let’s beat plastic pollution and protect the wildlife and habitats that make our planet thrive.Feature image: Wildlife SOS/ Vineet Singh
