The 10-day program provides participants with an immersive look into rehabilitation, health care and conservation efforts
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Supporters and partners from around the world recently completed a 10-day Elephant Care Master Class hosted by Wildlife SOS, a global wildlife conservation and welfare organization dedicated to providing specialized veterinary care and reducing human-wildlife conflict. The program provided those in attendance with deeper scientific insight and fostered a shared commitment to advancing the future of elephant care.
Participants in Wildlife SOS’s inaugural Elephant Master Class learn about elephant healthcare and nutrition alongside Rhea, a 62-year-old Indian elephant rescued in 2016 from a roadside circus.
“This master class gives participants an up-close look into our operations and helps cultivate ambassadors for elephant health and safety,” said Nikki Sharp, the executive director of Wildlife SOS’s United States division. “Our goal is to give attendees an unforgettable experience and behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to conduct health assessments, interpret behavior, create nutritious diets and design enrichment activities so they grasp both the science behind our work with elephants and the compassion that drives it.”
Throughout the course, participants engaged in a series of in-depth classes and field visits. They toured Wildlife SOS’s 24-hour elephant hospital, the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre and the Agra Bear Rescue Facility, where they observed cutting-edge medical treatments and wildlife recovery programs firsthand from the organization’s expert veterinarians and caregivers. The curriculum also covered key topics such as social rehabilitation and community-based conservation strategies.
“We thought our Elephant Hospital Campus was the perfect place for people to learn about caring for elephants in India,” said Kip Peterson, director of advocacy at Wildlife SOS. “This is where rescued elephants, after decades of trauma and abuse, make a remarkable transformation into health and freedom, and simply learn how to be an elephant.”
Beyond the classroom and care centers, attendees experienced India’s cultural heritage, including trips to the Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage bird sanctuary and visits to iconic landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, a complex of monuments and temples build in the 16th century. The experience offered a holistic perspective on the intersection of culture, conservation and coexistence.
The Elephant Care Master Class is part of the organization’s expanding Travel with Wildlife SOS series, designed to engage supporters through educational journeys that highlight the group’s lifesaving impact. Upcoming programs include the Incredible India Adventure in 2026 and 2027, an all-inclusive experience that combines ethical travel with the opportunity to witness the organization’s groundbreaking conservation work in action.
For more information about Wildlife SOS, visit https://wildlifesos.org/ or visit their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@WildlifeSOS.
About Wildlife SOS
Celebrating its 30th year, Wildlife SOS is a nonprofit conservation organization established in 1995, working across India to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife in distress. In addition to its work combating illegal wildlife trade and mitigating human-wildlife conflict, the organization actively collaborates with government agencies and local communities to protect habitats and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Wildlife SOS is also leading the national movement to end the exploitation of elephants in captivity through its ‘Begging’ Elephant Campaign, which aims to save all neglected and abused begging elephants from the streets of India by 2030, getting them into sanctuary for expert medical care and lasting quality of life. For more information, visit wildlifesos.org.
SOURCE Wildlife SOS
