Kartick Satyanarayan: The Bear Man of India

"Right from the beginning I think I was infected with this disease. It's a very, very contagious disease of not knowing how to say no to an animal in distress. So, alongside of the bears, we were rescuing everything else: crocodiles, snakes, birds, deer, foxes, jackals, you know, I mean, you name it." - Kartick Satyanarayan

Kartik Satyanarayan is the co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, an organization that was founded in 1995 with the mission to make lasting changes to protect and conserve India's natural heritage, forests and biodiversity. Kartick and Wildlife SOS work towards protecting wildlife, conserving habitat, studying biodiversity, conducting research, and creating alternative and sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile communities that depend on wildlife for sustenance. They run several projects to support bear conservation in India, including the largest rehabilitation center in the world for sloth bears.

Kartik is often referred to as the 'Bear Man of India' because of his efforts to put an end to the illegal practice of dancing bears. But in reality, he and Wildlife SOS work to protect all of India's wildlife, including the elephants. They rescue, treat and care for elephants that are exploited in the abusive tourism and "begging elephant" industries and work to end the plight of injured and sick elephants that are forced to work in unnatural conditions.

Kartick's stories are extraordinary and his love for India's wildlife is indeed contagious.

wildlifesos.org