From Survival to Sanctuary- By Sarann John, Miss Earth Wales Air 2025

This year I had the amazing opportunity of visiting the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in India and it was an experience that deeply moved me and reshaped how I understand conservation. This trip has been an experience I have prayed and worked so hard to be a part of for years now, and it exceeded my expectations unimaginably.

For years I have been fundraising for A-Sisterhood with the dream of one day being able to see first hand the impact that they have on charities worldwide including Wildlife SOS. It was truly surreal to finally get this experience and be a part of A-Sisterhoods annual India Trip.

In this instance, the money A-Sisterhood donated went towards the education of the women of the Kalandar tribe. These women usually depend on dancing bears for income, however due to the generosity of A-Sisterhood’s donation, these women can now find work elsewhere due to the education they’re getting and will therefore give up their dancing bears to the sanctuary where they will be cared for everyday. Seeing exactly where the money goes makes the fundraising even more worth while, motivating me to work harder than ever to support this amazing cause.

Hearing the individual stories of the elephants made the visit incredibly personal. Ginger’s story, in particular, was heartbreaking. She was purposefully blinded by her previous owners to gain more control over her, a cruel act that highlighted the extent of exploitation some elephants endure. Today, Ginger lives under constant care at the Wildlife SOS elephant hospital, where she receives specialized medical attention and round-the-clock support. Watching her being gently guided and cared for by her keepers was both painful and hopeful, a reminder of what she survived and how much compassion now surrounds her.

Bani’s journey was equally powerful, though filled with remarkable resilience. When she first arrived at the sanctuary as a baby, she was unable to move. Her condition was so severe that carers were told she would likely never walk again. Through intensive care, patience, and unwavering dedication from the veterinary and caregiving teams, Bani defied those expectations. Seeing her walking on her own felt nothing short of a miracle.

Beyond the elephants themselves, their presence has helped restore the surrounding environment. The elephants play a vital role in shaping the ecosystem. By dispersing seeds, clearing pathways, and enriching the soil, they support plant regeneration and create habitats for other species.

Wildlife SOS’s work extends far beyond this sanctuary, through rescue missions, education, and advocacy aimed at ending elephant exploitation across India. Their approach focuses not only on saving lives, but on creating sustainable change for the future.

In addition to their elephant care centres, Wildlife SOS also runs dedicated sanctuaries for bears and leopards. Their sloth bear sanctuaries provide lifelong care for bears rescued from the cruel dancing bear trade, allowing them to live in natural, enriched environments. Wildlife SOS also operates leopard rescue and rehabilitation facilities, where leopards injured or displaced by human–wildlife conflict receive medical treatment and are rehabilitated for release back into the wild whenever possible.

Leaving the sanctuary, I felt a profound mix of sadness, hope, and responsibility. Witnessing Ginger’s gentle strength and Bani’s incredible recovery reminded me that while humans can cause immense harm, we also have the ability to heal. This visit showed me that true conservation is about compassion, for both animals and our ecosystems.