My Nonprofit Reviews

I visited and volunteered at the Agra elephant and bear sanctuaries in November 2024.

I first worked with the charity in around 2000 when it was 5 years old and it was humbling to return to see their massive achievements: all of India’s dancing bears have been rescued, but not only that, their owners rehabilitated through support from WSOS to set up new businesses and their families supported through education and medical care, meaning they will never return to dancing bears.

WSOS then turned their attention to rescuing working elephants. They have cared for 100+ elephants at their sanctuary, built the first elephant hospital in India, have put a mobile hospital on the road to take treatment to where it’s needed and they send an ambulance when an elephant needs rescuing.

Oh and they also rescue animals throughout India and run several 24/7 animal rescue hotlines.

As a volunteer I helped prepare food, feed the bears and elephants, clean their enclosures and built a platform for the bears to play on.

I wholly recommend volunteering with WSOS, it’s a great education experience, an opportunity to give something back and we had a special and memorable holiday at the same time. WSOS staff are warm and welcoming and make the experience fun and rewarding.

I wholly recommend supporting WSOS.